SEATTLE, Sept. 1 (Ticker) -- The Sacramento Monarchs were able to take advantage of the shorthanded Seattle Storm.

NBA TV highlights from Monarchs-Storm: 56k | 300k Yolanda Griffith connected on 7-of-9 from the field for Sacramento. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty Images

Yolanda Griffith scored 18 points to lead the Monarchs to a 73-65 victory over the Storm, who were without 2003 Most Valuable Player Lauren Jackson.

Jackson -- the WNBA's leading scorer at 20.6 points per game -- is nursing a sore foot while visiting her ailing grandmother in Australia .

Sacramento was in control most of the game, leading 45-36 at the half. Seattle got within 66-61 on a Sue Bird 3-pointer with 1:46 left, but the Storm did not make another shot from the floor and had their seven-game home winning streak snapped.

Tangela Smith added 14 points for the Monarchs, while Betty Lennox led Seattle with 19.

Bird scored 18 for the Storm but Jackson's replacement, Simone Edwards, did not score -- missing all seven of her shots.