Sacramento Advances

Yolanda Griffith scored 30 points and had 14 rebounds Sunday as the Sacramento Monarchs made the WNBA Western Conference finals for the first time, sweeping the Utah Starzz in the best-of-three first-round series with a 71-66 victory before 7,294 at Sacramento.

The Monarchs will play either the Sparks or Houston in the next round.

Griffith’s matchup with Utah’s Natalie Williams in the low post was the highlight of the series’ two games, but it ended when Williams fouled out with 6:59 left. The Starzz were clinging to a 55-53 lead, but Griffith scored seven points over the next five minutes as Sacramento pulled away.

Sacramento and Utah combined for a playoff-record 73 free throw attempts, making 59. Griffith went 18 for 24 from the line.

Kedra Holland-Corn made four free throws in the final minute for Sacramento and finished with 14 points. Griffith scored a career playoff high 30 points. Adrienne Goodson had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Starzz.

Miami 53, New York 50--Sheri Sam scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half as the Sol rallied before 14,004 at New York to force a decisive game in the first-round series.

The Liberty, the two-time defending East champion, shot just 32% from the field and blew a 10-point second-half lead.

Elena Baranova added 16 for the Sol, who return to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 Tuesday. The winner will play the Cleveland Rockers-Charlotte Sting series winner Friday.