SACRAMENTO (AP) – Kara Lawson scored 11 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter on May 2 to help the Sacramento Monarchs win their preseason opener, defeating the Seattle Storm 70-68.

The game marked the homecoming of Yolanda Griffith, who signed as a free agent with Seattle in April after playing her entire WNBA career in Sacramento. The 38-year-old Griffith, who received a standing ovation during pre-game introductions, finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four steals.

“It was tough,” Griffith said of playing in Sacramento again. “[Teammate] Sheryl [Swoopes] kept getting in my ear making sure I was focused, but once the ball goes up, I’m going to represent Seattle.”

Rebekkah Brunson had 11 points for the Monarchs, who were playing without three starters from last year’s team. Both Kim Smith and Charel Allen scored eight points and first-round draft pick Laura Harper added seven.

“Our goal going in is just to get better and I thought that we did that in the areas we were focusing on,” Monarchs Head Coach Jenny Boucek said after the game.

Former Detroit star Swin Cash scored 17 points and Shyra Ely had 16 for Seattle. Katie Gearlds made three 3-pointers and scored 11.

Trailing throughout much of the fourth quarter, Daphanie Kennedy made a 3-pointer to pull Seattle to within 69-68 with 8.2 seconds left. Smith missed three of four free throws in the closing seconds, but the Storm never got off another shot in falling to 0-2 in the preseason under new coach Brian Agler.

“There is definitely an adjustment period because we have so many rookies coming in, but the WNBA season is short, so it’s usually the teams who get off to a hot start that end up making the playoffs,” Lawson said.

Both Western Conference teams were short-handed due to injuries and various players still playing overseas. Swoopes, an offseason free agent acquisition, injured her left shoulder midway through the first quarter and didn’t return. Seattle was missing its dynamic one-two punch of point guard Sue Bird and center Lauren Jackson, who was last year’s MVP. The pair are playing for the same team in Russia.

Nursing minor injuries, Sacramento’s starting backcourt of Ticha Penicheiro and Chelsea Newton watched the game in street clothes. A third starter, Nicole Powell, is playing overseas.

Griffith and Gearlds both had eight points to help the Storm take a 28-26 lead into the half. The game remained close with a score of 43-43 into the fourth quarter.

Sacramento Union Sports Editor Patrick Ibarra contributed to this story.