SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 9 (Ticker) -- Kara Lawson helped the Sacramento Monarchs continue their momentum heading into the All-Star break.

Lawson scored 11 of her 16 points in the second half as the Monarchs pulled away for a 70-61 victory over the Charlotte Sting.

NBA TV highlights from Sting-Monarchs: Play

Nicole Powell added 12 points for the defending champion Monarchs (12-8), who have won a season-high three straight games, and five of their last six heading into the break. Sacramento is in second place in the Western Conference, 3 1/2 games behind Los Angeles.

Facing the team with the league's worst record, the Monarchs played to their competition in the first half, when they shot under 32 percent and trailed, 30-29, at the break.

Scholanda Dorrell's basket 35 seconds into the third quarter gave the Monarchs the lead for good. It still was tight when Lawson made a 3-pointer with 3:47 left in the third quarter to trigger a 8-0 surge that ended the quarter and opened a 51-42 advantage.

The Sting pulled within 57-52 with 4:28 remaining on former Monarch Tangela Smith's basket. But DeMya Walker split two free throws and Powell drained a shot from the arc to rebuild the lead to nine points with under three minutes left.

Smith scored 14 points and Kelly Mazzante and Sheri Sam contributed 11 apiece for the Sting (3-16), who have lost five straight and enter the break, and 11-of-12 overall.