• Recap
• Bleachers

Monarchs clinch playoff spot with comeback win over Sun

Aug 8, 2007 - 1:38 AM UNCASVILLE, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Kara Lawson scored 21 points and the Sacramento Monarchs clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference, edging the Connecticut Sun, 81-79, on Tuesday.

Trailing, 69-62, with 6:26 to play, the Monarchs (17-11) used a 16-2 run, making six straight shots, to take a 78-71 lead with just under two minutes to play.

The Sun (16-13) had a chance to force overtime on the last possession of the game but Lindsay Whalen missed a driving layup with one second remaining.

The win marks the fifth straight postseason appearance for Sacramento, which moved into a second-place tie with San Antonio, one-half game behind the first-place Phoenix Mercury.

The Mercury plays at Los Angeles later Tuesday night.

Whalen and Asjha Jones each scored 17 points for the Sun, who had won 10 of their past 11 games, including four in a row.

Adrian Williams added 14 points for the Monarchs, who received 45 points from their bench while outrebounding Connecticut, 35-24.