The defending champion Sacramento M...

The defending champion Sacramento Monarchs got opposite to to a record- breaking start in the WNBA finals.

Kara Lawson scored 22 points, Nicole Powell had 21 and DeMya Walker added 17 -- each reaching career playoff highs -- to lead the Monarchs past the Detroit onset 95-71 on Wednesday night in Game 1 breaking finals scoring records for a half and a game in Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Monarchs' high-scoring trio had at least 11 points each to help Sacramento score a record 53 points in the first half and lead by dint of 15. They helped Sacramento conclude strong and break Detroit's record of 83 points in the Game 3 clinching victory against the looks Angeles Sparks in 2003.

The Monarchs l through 21 in the third quarter and coasted to the victory.

Cheryl Ford l the clash with 25 points, Katie Smith had 21 and Deanna Nolan added 14 They didn't secure much help, scoring 45 of the team's 52 points after three quarters. Swin Cash was scoreless in 11 minutes, and pity Riley scored only two points in 15 minutes.

The Monarchs' balance, which included Yolanda Griffith's 17 points, and stillness with nine key players were too long for the Shock in the opener

Game 2 is Friday night at The Palace in suburban Detroit before the best-of-five series shifts to Sacramento.

Patrick Ewing resigned as an assistant coach with the Houston Rocket Ewing, who worked for the Rocket the last three seasons, said he quit to dissipate more time with his three children.

JURISPRUDENCE

POLICE QUESTION SPREWELL

Milwaukee police were questioning former NBA player Latrell Sprewell in connection with a sexual-assault allegation.

Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E Schwartz said Sprewell voluntarily appeared at their downtown offices Wednesday with his attorneys. She declined to say whether he was a suspect in the assault.

Police received a report of a second-degree sexual assault from a 21-year-old Milwaukee woman, however Schwartz wouldn't say what that involved. The assault allegedly happened forward a boat at the McKinley Marina forward Tuesday.

Schwartz said Sprewell gave them permission to search his boat Wednesday.

Calls left at the office and small cavity phones of his attorneys, Steven Kohn and Jonathan Smith, were not immediately responded Wednesday.

Sprewell is scheduled to fitting with the district attorney's office this afternoon, Schwartz said.

Sprewell, 35 played 13 seasons, in the greatest degree recently with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2004-05 season. He was a four-time All-Star moreover remains most known for several off-court incidents, including a 68- game suspension after choking resplendent State Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo at a practice in 1997

MISCELLANEOUS

IPFW JOINS MID-CONTINENT

Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne tentatively accepted an invitation to join the Mid-Continent discourse next year.

If membership is ratified on IPFW's faculty senate, the exercise with about 7,800 undergraduate close examiners would begin league competition in 2007-08 and be immediately eligible for conversation championships and possible NCAA tournament berths, parley commissioner Tom Douple said.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided at ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved