RESERVE IS TROUBLE FOR SPARKS : SACRAMENTO 73, SPARKS 69.

Byline: Associated Press

Reserve Latasha Byears scored 21 points, including a big three-point play late in the game, and the Sacramento Monarchs beat the Sparks 73-69 Tuesday night in a WNBA game.

With 47 seconds to play, Byears outfought Lisa Leslie for a rebound, made the basket and was fouled. Her free throw put Sacramento (1-1) ahead for good, 69-67.

Ruthie Bolton-Holifield, who finished with 13 points, followed with a steal and converted two free throws, putting the Monarchs ahead 71-67 with 11 seconds remaining. After Haixia Zheng scored on a putback to make it 71-69, Byears and Ticha Penicheiro both made free throws for the Monarchs.

Tamecka Dixon had 21 points, all in the second half, for Los Angeles (1-2). Leslie finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Leslie's three-point play with 1:05 left gave the Sparks their last lead of the game at 67-66.

Dixon had a 3-pointer and two other jumpers in an 11-0 run that brought the Sparks within one point at 45-44 midway through the second half.

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Photo

PHOTO The Sparks' Penny Toler heads downcourt after stealing the ball from Sacramento's Franthea Price.

Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press