Sacramento, CA -- (Sports Network) - Ticha Penicheiro scored 17 points and dished out eight assists to lead the Sacramento Monarchs to an 87-81 win over the Washington Mystics at ARCO Arena.

Kara Lawson tallied 13 points while Rebekkah Brunson and Scholanda Robinson both added 12 points for the Monarchs, who have won two straight following a two-game skid.

Alana Beard scored a game-high 31 points for Washington, which has dropped three of its last four overall after winning three straight. Monique Currie totaled 17 points and Nakia Sanford added 10 in the loss.

The Monarchs led 44-43 at the break, but used a 20-15 advantage in the third quarter to slowly pull away. Sacramento, which won the battle on the glass 31-29, shot 51.7 percent from the floor.