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Friday, Aug. 4 8:00pm ET
Monarchs clinch playoff berth | |||||
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BOX SCORE
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Sacramento coach Sonny Allen has the Monarchs right where he wants them heading into the stretch run of the season. Yolanda Griffith scored 24 points and tied a season high with 17 rebounds to lead Sacramento to a 74-63 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Friday as the Monarchs clinched a playoff berth. "I think we played strong tonight, and we are right on schedule going into the playoffs," Allen said. "We're in an ideal situation." Griffith, in recording her 13th double-double of the season, scored 14 of her points in the first half, as Sacramento (20-10) raced to a 38-25 halftime lead. The Monarchs, who won their team-record fifth consecutive game, also set a team record for victories in a season. Sacramento has won seven of its last eight games. The Lynx (13-16) lost their third consecutive game, all at home. It is their second three-game losing streak of the season. "We took control of the boards," Allen said. "The Lynx are scrappy and well-coached, but they don't have any height, and we took advantage of that." Minnesota coach Brian Agler said he had no excuses for his team's performance. "We've got a team with talent, that during stretches, can play very well," Agler said. "But then they can go through periods of times where we're nonexistent. We saw a little of both tonight. We've done it just about every game, but the really good teams take advantage of it." Katie Smith had 20 points and Betty Lennox had 18 points for Minnesota. Ticha Penicheiro had 10 assists and 10 points for the Monarchs, as she recorded her fourth double-double of the season. The game, which took one hour, 39 minutes, was the quickest game in Lynx history. | ALSO SEE WNBA Scoreboard RECAPS Miami 60 Charlotte 50
Sacramento 74
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