http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14315639p-15227089c.html
Monarchs let one get away in Detroit
By Melody Gutierrez -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Saturday, September 2, 2006
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- They were warned. Twice.
Remember last year, Monarchs coach John Whisenant told his team before Friday's Game 2 against Detroit in the WNBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Remember the second game against Connecticut in the 2005 Finals, when Brooke Wyckoff's open three-pointer with two seconds to go helped send the Monarchs to Arco Arena 1-1 in the best-of-five series.
Whisenant said remember, but the Shock pressed repeat, this time at the hands of Katie Smith's three-pointer with two seconds left in the third quarter that changed the momentum of Friday's game and eventually spurred Detroit's 73-63 victory over Sacramento in front of an announced crowd of 15,218. The best-of-five series is tied 1-1 heading to Arco Arena for the next two games on Sunday and Wednesday.
"When Katie made the three-ball, we just said, 'You have 10 minutes to protect your home court, to put yourself back in the series,' " Shock coach Bill Laimbeer said. "And it was great to see the response of the players."
Players such as Smith and Deanna Nolan, who aided the Shock in outscoring the Monarchs 25-9 in a fourth quarter that had Detroit walking with an extra bounce and added intensity as Sacramento began to fall a part. Despite a lead nearly the entire game, Sacramento went from being up six points to being down 12 points in the deciding fourth quarter. And it started with Smith's shot from 24 feet out.
"It's similar," said DeMya Walker, who left Wyckoff open in last year's game, allowing the shot to go in and the game to go into overtime.
"The difference is, this is a game we could have had."
And for awhile, it looked like Sacramento would after jumping on Detroit 26-19 in the first 10 minutes and leaving intermission ahead 42-33.
Sacramento was outrebounding the Shock (20-10) and grabbing more second-chance points (7-2).
Then came the second half, which Sacramento opened by missing 20 of its first 24 shots.
"They were more aggressive," said Yolanda Griffith, who scored two points in the second half and finished with a team-high 14 points. "They just came out and wanted it, you could see it."
A new game plan also helped the Shock recover from Wednesday's 95-71 loss to Sacramento in Game 1 at the Palace. Detroit began double-teaming and adding more pressure on the perimeter, limiting Sacramento's prowl behind the arch.
The Monarchs hit 10 three-pointers in Game 1, but made just 3 of 15 in the rematch.
"We are not satisfied with the way things are, but we are going to take it back home and do what we can and try to get something done," said Nicole Powell, who scored five points off 2-of-6 shooting from the field.
Nolan led Detroit with 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting while Smith ended her evening with 16 points, all of which were scored in the second half. The Shock dominated in the paint, outscoring Sacramento 28-18.
Whisenant said his players, especially Griffith and Walker, were fatigued, and he was limited to how he could play them in the crucial fourth quarter.
"Yo was out of gas, and DeMya was throwing it away," Whisenant said.
Walker finished with 10 points, five turnovers and two rebounds. She said the Monarchs will put Game 2 behind them heading to Arco Arena, looking to do what they did in last year's championship run.
Take two at home.
About the writer: The Bee's Melody Gutierrez can be reached at (916) 326-5521 or mgutierrez@sacbee.com.
Monarchs let one get away in Detroit
By Melody Gutierrez -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Saturday, September 2, 2006
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- They were warned. Twice.
Remember last year, Monarchs coach John Whisenant told his team before Friday's Game 2 against Detroit in the WNBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Remember the second game against Connecticut in the 2005 Finals, when Brooke Wyckoff's open three-pointer with two seconds to go helped send the Monarchs to Arco Arena 1-1 in the best-of-five series.
Whisenant said remember, but the Shock pressed repeat, this time at the hands of Katie Smith's three-pointer with two seconds left in the third quarter that changed the momentum of Friday's game and eventually spurred Detroit's 73-63 victory over Sacramento in front of an announced crowd of 15,218. The best-of-five series is tied 1-1 heading to Arco Arena for the next two games on Sunday and Wednesday.
"When Katie made the three-ball, we just said, 'You have 10 minutes to protect your home court, to put yourself back in the series,' " Shock coach Bill Laimbeer said. "And it was great to see the response of the players."
Players such as Smith and Deanna Nolan, who aided the Shock in outscoring the Monarchs 25-9 in a fourth quarter that had Detroit walking with an extra bounce and added intensity as Sacramento began to fall a part. Despite a lead nearly the entire game, Sacramento went from being up six points to being down 12 points in the deciding fourth quarter. And it started with Smith's shot from 24 feet out.
"It's similar," said DeMya Walker, who left Wyckoff open in last year's game, allowing the shot to go in and the game to go into overtime.
"The difference is, this is a game we could have had."
And for awhile, it looked like Sacramento would after jumping on Detroit 26-19 in the first 10 minutes and leaving intermission ahead 42-33.
Sacramento was outrebounding the Shock (20-10) and grabbing more second-chance points (7-2).
Then came the second half, which Sacramento opened by missing 20 of its first 24 shots.
"They were more aggressive," said Yolanda Griffith, who scored two points in the second half and finished with a team-high 14 points. "They just came out and wanted it, you could see it."
A new game plan also helped the Shock recover from Wednesday's 95-71 loss to Sacramento in Game 1 at the Palace. Detroit began double-teaming and adding more pressure on the perimeter, limiting Sacramento's prowl behind the arch.
The Monarchs hit 10 three-pointers in Game 1, but made just 3 of 15 in the rematch.
"We are not satisfied with the way things are, but we are going to take it back home and do what we can and try to get something done," said Nicole Powell, who scored five points off 2-of-6 shooting from the field.
Nolan led Detroit with 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting while Smith ended her evening with 16 points, all of which were scored in the second half. The Shock dominated in the paint, outscoring Sacramento 28-18.
Whisenant said his players, especially Griffith and Walker, were fatigued, and he was limited to how he could play them in the crucial fourth quarter.
"Yo was out of gas, and DeMya was throwing it away," Whisenant said.
Walker finished with 10 points, five turnovers and two rebounds. She said the Monarchs will put Game 2 behind them heading to Arco Arena, looking to do what they did in last year's championship run.
Take two at home.
About the writer: The Bee's Melody Gutierrez can be reached at (916) 326-5521 or mgutierrez@sacbee.com.
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