SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 26 (AP) -- Rebekkah Brunson had 15 points and eight rebounds, and the Sacramento Monarchs never trailed in a 59-46 victory over the New York Liberty on Tuesday night.
The Monarchs made two 3-pointers to start the game and never trailed in winning for the fifth time in six games. They scored the game's first eight points and led 15-1 late in the first quarter.
"Yeah, I would have to say they are the best defensive team in the league,'' said New York coach Pat Coyle, who watched her team shoot 31 percent and commit 24 turnovers. "Nothing comes easy against them. They are long and athletic and get you out of whack running your offense.''
Ahead late in the third quarter by seven points, the Monarchs went on an 11-0 run that extended into the fourth. Scholanda Robinson scored nine straight points and Adrian Williams added a short jumper to conclude the run, putting Sacramento ahead 53-35 with 6:19 remaining.
"You can't think about the shots you missed, you just have to go out there and let them go when you get an open look,'' said Robinson, who missed her first five shots.
Both Robinson and Kara Lawson scored nine points for the Monarchs (10-4), who lead the Western Conference.
Lisa Willis made five 3-pointers and had 15 points and six rebounds for the Liberty (7-7), who scored a season low point total. Ashley Battle added 10 points and Cathrine Kraayeveld had eight.
Brunson was quietly effective inside, going 7-for-9 and playing intimating defense for the Monarchs.
Struggling New York, which opened the season 5-0, dropped its third straight game. The Liberty missed their first eight shots and trailed 26-15 at intermission.
"Definitely, we bother people when we are playing well defensively,'' Robinson said. "We make other teams feel like we have six or seven players out there.''
The WNBA's most accurate 3-point shooting team coming in, the Liberty rushed their shots and connected on 7-of-28 attempts from beyond the arc.
Chelsea Newton started the game with a 3-pointer and Nicole Powell quickly followed with another one for the Monarchs, who led 19-6 after one quarter.
