Griffith Boosts Monarchs

Yolanda Griffith had 14 points and 13 rebounds as the Sacramento Monarchs defeated the Washington Mystics, 78-56, Saturday night before 7,816 at Sacramento.

Griffith, the WNBA’s most valuable player in 1999, also had four blocked shots and three steals as the Monarchs (13-6) improved to 8-1 at home.

Chamique Holdsclaw led the Mystics with 16 points, and reserve Tausha Mills had season highs with 15 points and a team-high 12 rebounds in just 16 minutes.

The Mystics (8-6), playing the fourth game in a five-game trip, were coming off a loss to the Sparks Thursday night.

New York 63, Miami 51--Tamika Whitmore scored 17 points as the Liberty beat the Sol before 13,124 at New York. Whitmore was seven for eight from the field.

The Liberty (10-9) moved above .500 for the first time this season.

New York outscored the Sol, 20-10, in the final eight minutes. Reserve Becky Hammon scored eight in the run.

Phoenix 66, Indiana 65--Rankica Sarenac, who scored 15 points, made winning free throws for the Mercury with 26.6 seconds left before 11,659 at Indianapolis.

Sarenac scored 13 points in the second half as Phoenix (11-6) extended Indiana’s losing streak to 10 games. The Fever (3-14) has lost eight in a row at home.

Orlando 64, Seattle 53--Adrienne Johnson had 18 points and Nykesha Sales scored all 16 of her points in the second half before 8,266 at Orlando as the Miracle (12-6) won their fifth in a row. The Storm (3-15) shot only 39.6% en route to its 10th loss in 11 games.

Cleveland 80, Charlotte 59--Rushia Brown scored 24 points to lead the Rockets (9-8) over the Sting (3-15) before 5,954 at Charlotte. The Sting had lost nine consecutive home games before beating Miami Wednesday night.

Around the WNBA

The Sparks’ Lisa Leslie, Houston Comets Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson, and Sacramento’s Ticha Penicheiro will be in the West starting lineup for the WNBA All-Star game July 17 in New York. The East starters will be Chamique Holdsclaw and Nikki McCray of Washington, Sue Wicks and Teresa Weatherspoon of New York and Taj McWilliams of Orlando. New York’s Richie Adubato will coach the East, Houston’s Van Chancellor the West. Swoopes was the leading vote-getter. The coaches will pick the reserves.