Monarchs Get Past Silver Stars

Sacramento nearly limited San Antonio to a franchise low for shots attempted and Yolanda Griffith had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Monarchs to a 71-67 victory over the Silver Stars on Friday night at San Antonio.

The Monarchs held San Antonio to 47 shots. The franchise low for shots attempted is 43 on July 26, 2001, when the Silver Stars were the Utah Starzz. The Silver Stars, who have lost all three games this season, also tied a franchise record for fewest shots attempted for a half with 19.

San Antonio was able to stay close because of free throws. The Silver Stars attempted 31 free throws, nine more than the Monarchs, and made 25.

Seattle 79, Houston 69 -- Betty Lennox scored 24 points and Lauren Jackson had 17 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Storm to a come-from-behind victory at Seattle.

The Storm, which lost to the Sparks at home by 18 points in its season opener last Saturday, trailed Houston by 14 points at halftime.

Seattle outscored the Comets, 53-29, in the second half.

Jackson, a three-time WNBA All-Star and the league MVP in 2003, had 12 points and eight rebounds in the second half, while Lennox scored 18 points.

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SPARKS TODAY

at Charlotte, 3 p.m. PDT

Site -- Charlotte Coliseum.

Records -- Sparks 2-1, Sting 0-3.

Record vs. Sting (2004) -- 1-1.

Update -- Los Angeles can call its trip successful with a win tonight. And the Sting is reeling. Forward Tangela Smith, who struggled in Charlotte’s first two games, broke through with a 21-point performance against Phoenix on Thursday. But the Sting is averaging only 52.6 points a game. The Sparks’ roster will be almost complete when they return home; Laura Macchi has finished her Italian League obligations and will be in Los Angeles next week.

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-- Mike Terry