Parker leads Sparks in rout

Candace Parker scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help the Sparks rout the Sacramento Monarchs, 78-61, on Saturday night.

Parker made her first six shots as the Sparks established a double-digit lead and never allowed the Monarchs to get to within 14 points in the second half.

Noelle Quinn scored 14 points, DeLisha Milton-Jones 13, and Lisa Leslie had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Sparks, who broke a two-game losing streak. The win kept the Sparks (9-13) one game behind San Antonio in the chase for the fourth playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Nicole Powell led Sacramento with 20 points, Rebekkah Brunson had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and DeMya Walker had 10 points.

The Monarchs (7-18) had beaten the Sparks, 85-79, on Friday night, but Saturday’s defeat denied them their first three-game winning streak of the season. The loss guaranteed Sacramento its first losing season since 2002.

Ahead by 13 points at the half, the Sparks opened the third quarter with a 7-2 run and quickly stretched the lead to 43-24.

Parker scored 14 points and Milton-Jones had nine in the opening half, when the Sparks led 35-22. The Monarchs went nearly five minutes without scoring in the second quarter and were outscored 16-7.

Two-time Olympic gold-medal beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor was honored at halftime on “Women of Inspiration Night.”