Shock tops Rockers to garner first series

Deanna Nolan scored 16 points in the first six minutes, and finished with 26.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Detroit's abysmal shooting performance in a Game 2 loss to the Cleveland Rockers motivated the Shock for Game 3.
Deanna Nolan scored 26 points, including 16 in the first six minutes, and the Shock won their first playoff series with a 77-63 win over the Rockers on Tuesday night.
"Our focus was incredible -- you could tell at 11 this morning that we wanted to play the game right then," Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said. "These ladies wanted to make up for what happened in Game 2."
The Shock shot 28.5 percent in a 66-59 loss in Game 2.
The top-seeded Shock advanced to the Eastern Conference finals against third-seeded Connecticut. Game 1 is in Connecticut on Friday night.
Hits six bombs
Nolan made six 3-pointers, one short of Mwadi Mabika's postseason record.
Swin Cash added 14 points and Ruth Riley 11 for Detroit. Rookie Cheryl Ford finished with 15 rebounds, including a league-record 10 defensive boards in the first half.
Chasity Melvin led Cleveland with 19 points, and Penny Taylor added 17.
"I don't think we were focused at the beginning of the game, and that is what has killed us all year," Melvin said. "There's just no excuse for not being ready for Game 3 of a playoff series. You shouldn't need an inspirational speech for a game like this."
Nolan is 6-for-6
Detroit took a 23-10 lead behind Nolan's 6-for-6 shooting in the first six minutes. She made four 3-pointers in the streak, tying a league playoff record for a half.
The Shock led by as many 20 points before taking a 42-24 lead into the break.
"I thought our team played a very good series, but we had one bad half," Cleveland coach Dan Hughes said. "This is why Detroit played for the best record -- they wanted this game on their court."
Monarchs 70, Comets 68
HOUSTON -- Yolanda Griffith had 27 points and 17 rebounds, and Ticha Penicheiro made the decisive basket with 2.1 seconds remaining as Sacramento advanced.
The Monarchs will play the Los Angeles Sparks in the Western Conference finals. Game 1 will be Friday night in Sacramento with the next two games Sunday and Monday in Los Angeles.
The Monarchs built a 14-point bulge late in the first half and led 44-32 at the break. But the four-time WNBA champion Comets forged a 68-68 tie on a layup by Sheryl Swoopes with eight seconds remaining.
Sacramento got the ball to Penicheiro, whose 11-foot running jumper hit for the clincher. The Comets got one more shot, but Swoopes missed the mark.
DeMya Walker added 15 points and Edna Campbell had 12 for the Monarchs. Tina Thompson led the Comets with 21 points and Michelle Snow had 16 points and 15 rebounds. Swoopes finished with 15 points and five assists.