Monarchs snap six-game losing streak

MINNEAPOLIS
Basketball Summaries, AP - 5 months ago

Rebekkah Brunson scored the go-ahead basket with 34 seconds left and blocked a key shot moments later, helping the Sacramento Monarchs snap a six-game losing streak with a 74-68 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night.

The Monarchs (2-8) hit 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch to clinch the victory, their first since June 12 against Phoenix. Nicole Powell led all scorers with 21 points, Kara Lawson scored 14 and Hamchetou Maiga-Ba chipped in 11.

The Lynx took a 64-59 advantage with 5 minutes to play, but the Monarchs finished the game on a 10-2 run. Roneeka Hodges led five Lynx players in double figures with 15 points, as Minnesota's three-game winning streak came to an end.

Western Conference-leading Minnesota (7-4) raced to an 11-2, with the Monarchs missing seven of their first eight shots. But Sacramento clawed back and Powell hit a pair of 3-pointers to end the first quarter, then added two buckets early in the second as part of a personal 10-2 run that gave the Monarchs a one-point advantage.

They wound up leading 34-33 at halftime, and went on a 7-0 run early in the third quarter to push the lead to 41-34. Renee Montgomery's 3-pointer with 6 minutes left in the period sparked an 11-2 Lynx run to turn the momentum, with nine of the points coming from the bench — the first contributions from them during the game

But the Monarchs finished the game with their big run, clinching the victory from the foul line after Brunson's go-ahead basket.