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Monarchs-Silver Stars Preview

Jun 25, 2009 - 8:10 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Sacramento (1-5) at San Antonio (2-3), 8:00 p.m. EDT

After dropping two games without Becky Hammon, the San Antonio Silver Stars had to be excited about getting their All-Star point guard back.

While Hammon provided an offensive lift, her return was overshadowed by the strong play of Belinda Snell.

Snell looks to build on a career game as the Silver Stars host the Sacramento Monarchs in a rematch of last year's Western Conference semifinals Friday night.

Hammon missed two games last weekend while playing with the Russian national team in the European women's championships. Without its leading scorer and playmaker, San Antonio (2-3) suffered double-digit defeats at New York and Connecticut.

Hammon returned and scored 19 points Tuesday night, but Snell stole the show with a career-high 21 points off the bench as the Silver Stars beat Phoenix 91-87. Snell went 7 for 11 from the field with three 3-pointers and added four rebounds and four steals against her former team.

"I was happy to get out there and have a strong game against Phoenix," said Snell, who averaged 4.0 points and shot 18.2 percent (4 for 22) in her first four contests. "I was more relaxed and felt the game come to me. I was able to make some shots tonight, which was good to see."

Snell, an Australian guard who spent last season playing in Russia after three years with the Mercury, looks for another big game against the struggling Monarchs.

Sacramento (1-5) has lost three straight, most recently suffering a disheartening 67-47 defeat at Los Angeles on Sunday. The Monarchs shot a season-low 25.8 percent, trailed by as much as 28 and allowed four Sparks players to score in double figures.

"That's the first game where we really were just horrible," coach Jenny Boucek said. "We just weren't there defensively."

Boucek hopes her club can rebound in San Antonio, but recent history suggests it may not happen. Including the postseason, the Silver Stars have won seven of eight home games against the Monarchs over the last two seasons, eliminating them from the playoffs both times.

Hammon averaged 19.3 points and made 16 of her 30 field-goal attempts in three postseason games against Sacramento last year.

Nicole Powell, leading the Monarchs with 16.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season, averaged 18.0 points against San Antonio in the 2008 playoffs. Powell was held to 13 points and 5-for-15 shooting against Los Angeles on Sunday.