http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/21127.html
Dethroned
Monarchs fail to repeat after losing command in third quarter
By Melody Gutierrez - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, September 10, 2006
DETROIT -- They hung their heads on their laps and choked back tears.
The Monarchs' locker room at Joe Louis Arena was silent after Saturday's 80-75 loss to the Detroit Shock in the decisive Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. Every player looked stunned and heartbroken over missing the chance for a second consecutive title.
Every player, that is, except the team leader.
"We have no reason to hold our heads down," Yolanda Griffith said. "It's disappointing. Some of them will hold their heads down because we had the opportunity to win this. We made some crucial mistakes."
And those mistakes led to the Shock's second WNBA championship in four seasons.
The Monarchs led 44-36 at halftime, but the Shock outscored Sacramento 22-9 in the third quarter. Monarchs coach John Whisenant said his team's 2-for-19 shooting in the third resulted from players returning from the half stiff.
"I was disappointed with a couple players for not warming up properly at halftime," Whisenant said. "It's too late after the fact to go out a little bit stiff because you don't get out of the locker room soon enough."
DeMya Walker was one Monarch seen strolling onto the court late. Walker finished with eight points but was 0 for 6 in the third quarter and scoreless in the second half with three turnovers.
Walker later tried to keep her composure while holding her 5-month-old daughter, Zachara, in her lap.
"We came out and didn't do the things we needed to do," Walker said. "I'd like to say there was a reason ... maybe they were a tad more aggressive. A team like that, when they are down, you have to keep them down."
Shock guard Deanna Nolan was named the Finals MVP after finishing with a game-high 24 points on 10-for-23 shooting with four assists and two steals. Katie Smith scored 17 points and Plenette Pierson 16 for Detroit.
The Monarchs outscored the Shock 26-20 in the paint, but Detroit outrebounded Sacramento 37-29.
"We could have played harder," Shock coach Bill Laimbeer said. "We talked about that at halftime. We talked about how we had 20 minutes. You saw a fine defensive effort in the second half."
Detroit led by 13 points in the fourth quarter. But Sacramento cut the deficit to three with 33.2 seconds remaining on a driving layup by Kristin Haynie for a three-point play and a three-pointer by Nicole Powell.
Haynie scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth. Kara Lawson had a team-high 17 points, and Griffith had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Lawson said she never gave up hope the Monarchs would pull off a last-second victory for back-to-back championships.
"The buzzer went off tonight, and that's when the series was lost," Lawson said.
However, the series had moments when the Monarchs could have put themselves in a position to clinch before Game 5. The Monarchs collapsed in the fourth quarter of Game 2, blowing a chance to lead the series 2-0 heading back to Sacramento. Then they scored just two points in the fourth quarter of Game 4, losing an opportunity to clinch at Arco Arena.
"We lost our serve in Sacramento," Whisenant said. "We had our chance."
And that's what stings the most for Ticha Penicheiro, who struggled all series and finished with the team's worst shooting percentage, 29.4 (15 for 51), in the Finals. Saturday, Penicheiro was 1 for 8 and scored five points with two assists and one turnover in 18 minutes.
"We made some bad decisions," said an emotional Penicheiro, her voice reduced to a whisper. "No one remembers second place. You play to win championships."
About the writer: The Bee's Melody Gutierrez can be reached at (916) 326-5521 or mgutierrez@sacbee.com.
Dethroned
Monarchs fail to repeat after losing command in third quarter
By Melody Gutierrez - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, September 10, 2006
DETROIT -- They hung their heads on their laps and choked back tears.
The Monarchs' locker room at Joe Louis Arena was silent after Saturday's 80-75 loss to the Detroit Shock in the decisive Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. Every player looked stunned and heartbroken over missing the chance for a second consecutive title.
Every player, that is, except the team leader.
"We have no reason to hold our heads down," Yolanda Griffith said. "It's disappointing. Some of them will hold their heads down because we had the opportunity to win this. We made some crucial mistakes."
And those mistakes led to the Shock's second WNBA championship in four seasons.
The Monarchs led 44-36 at halftime, but the Shock outscored Sacramento 22-9 in the third quarter. Monarchs coach John Whisenant said his team's 2-for-19 shooting in the third resulted from players returning from the half stiff.
"I was disappointed with a couple players for not warming up properly at halftime," Whisenant said. "It's too late after the fact to go out a little bit stiff because you don't get out of the locker room soon enough."
DeMya Walker was one Monarch seen strolling onto the court late. Walker finished with eight points but was 0 for 6 in the third quarter and scoreless in the second half with three turnovers.
Walker later tried to keep her composure while holding her 5-month-old daughter, Zachara, in her lap.
"We came out and didn't do the things we needed to do," Walker said. "I'd like to say there was a reason ... maybe they were a tad more aggressive. A team like that, when they are down, you have to keep them down."
Shock guard Deanna Nolan was named the Finals MVP after finishing with a game-high 24 points on 10-for-23 shooting with four assists and two steals. Katie Smith scored 17 points and Plenette Pierson 16 for Detroit.
The Monarchs outscored the Shock 26-20 in the paint, but Detroit outrebounded Sacramento 37-29.
"We could have played harder," Shock coach Bill Laimbeer said. "We talked about that at halftime. We talked about how we had 20 minutes. You saw a fine defensive effort in the second half."
Detroit led by 13 points in the fourth quarter. But Sacramento cut the deficit to three with 33.2 seconds remaining on a driving layup by Kristin Haynie for a three-point play and a three-pointer by Nicole Powell.
Haynie scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth. Kara Lawson had a team-high 17 points, and Griffith had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Lawson said she never gave up hope the Monarchs would pull off a last-second victory for back-to-back championships.
"The buzzer went off tonight, and that's when the series was lost," Lawson said.
However, the series had moments when the Monarchs could have put themselves in a position to clinch before Game 5. The Monarchs collapsed in the fourth quarter of Game 2, blowing a chance to lead the series 2-0 heading back to Sacramento. Then they scored just two points in the fourth quarter of Game 4, losing an opportunity to clinch at Arco Arena.
"We lost our serve in Sacramento," Whisenant said. "We had our chance."
And that's what stings the most for Ticha Penicheiro, who struggled all series and finished with the team's worst shooting percentage, 29.4 (15 for 51), in the Finals. Saturday, Penicheiro was 1 for 8 and scored five points with two assists and one turnover in 18 minutes.
"We made some bad decisions," said an emotional Penicheiro, her voice reduced to a whisper. "No one remembers second place. You play to win championships."
About the writer: The Bee's Melody Gutierrez can be reached at (916) 326-5521 or mgutierrez@sacbee.com.