SACRAMENTO, CALIF. ? With a few seconds left in regulation in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, the Sacramento Monarchs had a three-point lead on the scoreboard, a 1-0 lead in the series and every reason to think they would celebrate their first league title this weekend back home.

Instead, the Monarchs blew a basic defensive assignment at the worst possible time, allowing Brooke Wyckoff to hit an open three-pointer for the Connecticut Sun.

The momentum moved a whole lot more quickly than Sacramento’s defensive rotation – and after holding the stunned Monarchs scoreless in overtime of a series-tying 77-70 victory, the Sun headed out West riding all the momentum they stole with one big shot.

“We got a little bit lucky the other night to get the opportunity that we did,” Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said Saturday. “But as we mentally stayed in the game, it paid off for us. Now, we have another life, and we have to go take advantage of it.”

In Game 3 of the best-of-five series today, the Monarchs hope a raucous crowd at Arco Arena will help them reclaim their vanished swagger.