SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Ticker) -- Yolanda Griffith and the Sacramento Monarchs continue to be the class of the Western Conference.

Griffith scored 26 points as the Monarchs held off the Seattle Storm, 75-65, for their 10th victory in 11 games.

Reserve Kara Lawson added 18 points for Sacramento (23-8), which moved within 1 1/2 games of Connecticut for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Monarchs, who would lose a tiebreaker to the Sun, already had clinched the best record in the Western Conference.

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The Monarchs improved to 2-0 this season against the Storm, who will host Sacramento on Thursday.

The Monarchs closed the first half with a 13-2 run to take a 34-24 lead. Ticha Penicheiro capped the spurt by throwing an inbounds pass off the back of Seattle's Suzy Batkovic and making a layup with two seconds on the clock.

Sacramento held a 55-38 lead with 11 minutes remaining before Seattle pulled within 63-59 with 4 1/2 minutes to play. But the Storm got no closer as they slipped into a tie with Houston for second place in the West with three games remaining.

Lauren Jackson collected 16 points and 15 rebounds and Janell Burse added 13 points for the Storm, who committed 19 turnovers - 13 more than the Monarchs.