Yolanda Griffith scored 18 points to help the Sacramento Monarchs hold off a strong rally by Minnesota and beat the Lynx 74-66 on Thursday night in Sacramento, Calif.
Kara Lawson had 14 points, and Rebecca Brunson added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the defending WNBA champion Monarchs (21-12), who allowed an 18-point fourth quarter to shrink to four with 1:59 left.
It took a three-pointer from Nicole Powell with 40 seconds left to finally seal the game.
"We tried to get to the line. We tried to put more pressure on the ball," Lynx interim coach Carolyn Jenkins said, "and we fought back against the defending champs. But it's on us to do it for 40 minutes."
Seimone Augustus led Minnesota (10-23) with 31 points and went 13 for 13 from the free-throw line. Nicole Ohlde was the only other Lynx player in double figures with 11 points.
Minnesota, in last place in the Western Conference, will play its season finale Sunday night at Los Angeles.
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