SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 10 (Ticker) -- The Sacramento Monarchs stopped their brief slide and made sure the expansion Chicago Sky continued theirs.

Ticha Penicheiro scored 13 points and Yolanda Griffith added 11 and nine rebounds as the Monarchs put an end to their two-game losing streak with an 80-70 triumph over the reeling Sky.

With the loss, Chicago (1-8) pushed its losing skid to a dismal eight consecutive games.

The game was tied, 24-24, in the second quarter before the Monarchs pulled away as Rebekkah Brunson and Erin Buescher scored back-to-back baskets to cap an 11-4 surge with 4:04 remaining.

Kristin Haynie's jumper with just over three minutes left in the third period gave Sacramento a commanding 57-44 advantage.

Kara Lawson scored 14 points and rookie Kim Smith contributed a season-high 10 off the bench for the Monarchs, who shot 48 percent (28-of-58) from the field and scored 38 points in the paint.

Rookie Candice Dupree and Jia Perkins scored 17 points each for Chicago, which shot 45 percent (27-of-60).