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Monarchs rule over Mystics with dominating finish

May 23, 2007 - 2:13 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Yolanda Griffith, DeMya Walker and Rebekkah Brunson had their way inside and the Sacramento Monarchs had their way with the Washington Mystics.

Griffith scored 11 points, including eight in a key run, while Walker and Brunson also had strong games for the Monarchs in a 70-52 victory over the Mystics on Tuesday at the Verizon Center.

Griffith, who added eight rebounds and a pair of blocks, scored eight of her points in an 18-0 run that turned a tight game into a rout.

Sacramento scored the last two points of the third quarter to take a 50-48 lead. The Monarchs then scored the first 16 points of the fourth to pull away.

Walker had 11 points and eight rebounds and Brunson added 10 and eight off the bench for Sacramento (2-1), which outrebounded Washington, 50-22, and held a 42-15 edge in points in the paint.

Washington (0-2) did not score its first points of the fourth quarter until Chasity Melvin made a pair of free throws with 4:01 to play. Alana Beard scored the Mystics' only basket of the quarter with a jumper with 3:15 to go.

Beard scored 17 points and was the only Washington player in double figures.

The Mystics, who were outscored, 20-4, in the fourth quarter, made only 18 baskets and Beard had seven of them.

Neither team shot the ball well, but Sacramento made up for it by pounding the offensive boards. The Monarchs grabbed 25 offensive rebounds and had 14 second-chance points to none for the Mystics.