SPARKS TONIGHT

at Sacramento, 7

* Site--Arco Arena, Sacramento.

* Records--Sparks 3-4, Monarchs 5-2.

* Record vs. Monarchs--1-0.

* Update--Much has happened since the Sparks’ 100-78 victory over Sacramento in the June 10 season opener at the Great Western Forum. The Monarchs have won five of six and the Sparks have lost four of their last five. In the season’s first week, Spark hopes were soaring, particularly after their second game, when they went to Cleveland and beat the Rockers, 75-59. After that the Sparks lost at Orlando, New York and Houston and Thursday were blown out by the expansion Minnesota Lynx, 86-73. Friday, President Johnny Buss fired General Manager Rhonda Windham. And now come the Monarchs, led by a rejuvenated Ruthie Bolton-Holifield. Off to a slow start because of a longer-than-expected rehabilitation on her surgically repaired knee, Bolton-Holifield made six of eight three-point baskets for 27 points in a 107-69 rout of Utah on Thursday, while former Long Beach StingRay Yolanda Griffith was providing 24 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Ticha Penicheiro, with probably the WNBA’s best floor game, has 24 assists in her last two games.