Defending Champion Sacramento Starts Strong
Kara Lawson scored a career playoff-high 18 points and Yolanda Griffith added 16 points and nine rebounds for the defending WNBA champion Sacramento Monarchs, who beat the Comets, 93-78, on Thursday night at Houston in the opener of their first-round playoff series.
DeMya Walker scored 15 points and Tisha Penichero had eight assists for the Monarchs, who’ve won eight of nine playoff games since the start of last season’s title run. Their 93 points and 36 field goals were postseason franchise records.
The Monarchs lost three of four regular-season meetings with Houston this year, but dominated this one from the start with accurate shooting and smothering defense.
They led, 58-30, at the break, setting WNBA playoff records for points in a first half and largest halftime lead, and led by at least 20 until Coach John Whisenant put in the backups in the final minutes.
Detroit 68, at Indiana 56 -- Deanna Nolan scored 18 points and Katie Smith added 17 to help the Shock take a 1-0 lead in its Eastern Conference series.
Nolan was nine for 11 from the field, constantly getting free for open jumpers at the top of the key.
She scored six points during a 13-0 run.
Tamika Catchings, named the WNBA’s top defensive player earlier in the day, led Indiana with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.
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