Monarchs @ Phoenix (5/21)

[6th]

Monarchs are off to a good start. They lead at half by about 7 (I'll have to get the score). Anyway, I just wanted to get this started and say what I have seen in the first half.

Yolanda is playing like our beloved YO (scoring and rebounding).......nuff said.

Ticha did not start as she is still adjusting to the time change and all the new players. However, when she came in...WOW!! She hit a 3; had a "Ticha" no look that resulted in a lay-in; got a steal from Taurasi and took it all the way for her own lay-in...i.e. was vintage Ticha.

I really like Erin B. Dang, what hustle off the bench. She has been an impact player.

Nicole has really played well. She has some good rebounds and has scored. She has also disrupted Phx on more than one occasion. She played some terrific 1 on 1 D against DeForge who broke out for an outlet pass from Taurasi.

Others have played well, but the second half is about to begin.

 

[slugking50]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Kara is down looks like an left ankle. Shes in alot of pain!

 

[6th]

Monarchs Win!!

 

[Luv13fan]

We got a nice win..


I hope Kara is alright.
We are looking a little thin as far as Point guards go. But Nicole looked great. Doing everything we brought her here for.
Newton hung in there with Taurasi. That is big.

DeMya Did Her thang too. And that is great that the Post Held serve. Rebekkah Looks really nice. Scoring with the baseline jumpers.

We look good.

 

[6th]

Monarchs won 77-72.

Keys:
Playing terrific D most of the game (except for the short lapse in the 2nd half.

Ticha ran the offense extremely well for someone who has just returned to the team.

Well balanced. I have not looked at stats yet, but several players had good scoring. I think they ended with 4 players in double figures.

If I had to choose a "player of the game", I think I would choose Nicole Powell. Yep! This trade is going to prove to be a good one (or so it seems early). Powell had three 3's and then hit 4 very importand FT's late that were critical. She nabbed a few rebs and she had a fantastic assist late in the game to DeMya inside that was Ticha like in its force and accuracy.

This was a team effort all the way. I'm really gonna love the way C Whiz has them playing. And there is no doubt that Defense is a priority with this team. For a Sacramento team, that is a breath of fresh air.

 

[slugking50]

Yes they did!!! worried about Kara though.


Nicole Powell.. Welcome!! 13 pts 6 boards and 6 assists. (Ill ignore the 5 turnovers) Maybe we should invite her parents to every game this year?

As 6th mentioned. Ticha looked great. 11pts and 4 assists wiyhout much time at all with her new team.. Excellent.

http://www.wnba.com/games/20050521/SACPHO/boxscore.html


I was very impressed with the ladies tonight. They looked great!

 

[slugking50]

This was a team effort all the way. I'm really gonna love the way C Whiz has them playing. And there is no doubt that Defense is a priority with this team. For a Sacramento team, that is a breath of fresh air.

Aint that the truth!..lol

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Greetings from hotter than Hades Phoenix!! The Season TicketHolder Roadies are now above .500 in their games as we are now 3-2 with tonight's win.

I'm going to echo 6th's sentiments, very well balanced offensive attack tonight. Yo had a fantastic game, and I thought the very same thing, she looked vintage Yolanda Griffith.

For some reason, Miao does look to be struggling more than she did the first two games she had as a Monarch. I haven't even seen or even heard of her trying to get a decent shot off in either the Seattle preseason finale or tonight. She may now be trying to get adjusted to defenses looking to keep her from doing something or anything.

I'd be hard pressed to name a player of the game, although I do think Powell is a great choice for her play down the stretch and geezus I just saw the box score and she had incredible numbers!!! WOW!!!! I'm am almost positive she is going to get a trip dub before the season is out. Where I also was leaning was towards Brunson who I thought had a MONSTER game in her own right. Some of her rebounds came at key moments during Phoenix runs. She also had to have had at least 2 key blocks. I also have to give major props to DeMya Walker, her game was strong tonight too. Ticha also looked vintage in a good way, I'm over my being over her and am glad she's back. Buescher was Buescher, she had very efficient minutes. I'm going to note an observation that Hoopmatron made in an earlier thread, that she and Maiga do seem to have some sort of connection because they do seem to find each other very well on the floor. Chelsea Newton's first half offensively was awesome.

I'm going to just conceded that Taurasi and DeForge are going to be freaks and that's just the way it is, as long as nobody else joins them I'll live with that tandem taking us for 40 pts combined. I was VERY relieved to see Plenette Pierson not dressed for tonight's game. I think we caught a break, although again without Vodichkova and Pierson they were able to out rebound us. They just got very little scoring in the paint.

They need to get over the turnover issues, and that may resolve itself as they get the next few days to practice some more with everybody together before they take off for the rest of their road trip. And while they are at it, they REALLY REALLY might want to work on their FT shooting collectively as a team. I love the fact that Ticha closed out the game going perfect from the line, but I looked up at the tally board and saw that at some point they were shooting under 40% from the line. They ain't going to do much of anything positive if that does not improve.

Kara was in very good spirits after the game. It was kinda cool because the two Tennessee teammates of hers Ashley Robinson and Gwen Jackson came over to check on her after the game was over. She wasn't able to walk off with the team on that ankle, DeMya and somebody else carried her into the tunnel.

The balance on this team has been wonderful and for a change I think we can get shots from anybody and everybody is a threat to take and make shots when the team needs them. With that said, they still seem to have long stretches where they can't get a ball to drop. And I chalk that up to them actually not having the ball drop instead of them not being able to work the ball enough to get a good look.

Um....what was up with Phoenix suiting up Lisa Harrison again?!?? I apparently have missed why exactly they needed her back.

 

[slugking50]

Hmm I wondered if there was any Monarchs fans there. Koz mentioned there was 75 of you. They showed a bunch of you svral times.

Koz mentioned that Miao is having trouble comunicating with her teamates out there. that would explain why she generally looked confused.

Coach T mentioned Haynie was out for atleast 3 days and im sure this puts Kara out for most of the roadtrip. Not a good start so far with injuries but rather have them now then later in the season.


Krista mentioned that Harison appearently decided to take a year off to rest her body lasy year so she took an assistant coaching job with PHX last year.


P.S Why were we invited? Well bsides us not being season ticket holders?

 

[MBBPOETRY]

Awesome game! Great report MBF, sorry I missed going this year. Watched the TV game, very exciting & a much needed road win. Everyone played very well as a team. The passing, rebounding and the active defense. & We have shooters! I heard on the radio show the Monarchs had 20 points in the paint... As for Ticha, what a warrior. Nothing can match her court vision, a early season highlight reel, no doubt.
Looking forward to our season opener!!!

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Wooohoooo we won! We're undefeated!

Um....er.....uh......I didn't watch. I couldn't watch, I was out of town. :/