Griffith scored a season-high 23 points and Erin Buescher added 16 to lead the Monarchs to their 10th win in 13 contests, an 87-69 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars.
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Monarchs-Silver Stars: Play |
Winning for the second time in three showdowns with Silver Stars, the defending champion Monarchs moved three games ahead of the Houston Comets for the second spot in the West and home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
The 1999 league MVP, Griffith scored 14 first-half points and Sacramento shot 58 percent (22-of-38) from the floor to take a 48-41 lead at the break.
San Antonio scored the first nine points of the third quarter, capped by a 3-pointer by Agnieszka Bibrzycka with 6:48 left in the period, for a 50-48 edge.
However, Griffith hit two free throws and a layup, Kara Lawson made a basket from the arc and Buescher scored six consecutive points in a 15-0 burst that broke open the contest and gave the Monarchs a 63-50 advantage with 2:17 left in the third quarter.
Rebekkah Brunson scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Lawson added 11 for the Monarchs, who made all 12 foul shots and had a 38-29 edge off the glass.
Bibrzycka scored 19 points and Katie Feenstra added 15 for the Silver Stars, who shot 37 percent (22-of-59) and lost for the ninth time in 11 games.
Next Games: Sacramento hosts Washington, while San Antonio plays at Indiana; both on Saturday.
