Comets continue struggles
September 8, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Houston Comets News Release
DeLisha Milton-Jones had 16 points and seven rebounds to help the Los Angeles Sparks clinch a playoff berth with an 84-66 win over the slumping Houston Comets on Saturday night. Candace Parker scored 12 points, Lisa Leslie added 11 and Temeka Johnson 10 for the Sparks (19-13), who rebounded from a loss at San Antonio the previous night that snapped a four-game winning streak. Los Angeles is in third in the Western Conference, two games behind the Silver Stars and Seattle.
Tina Thompson scored a game-high 18 points, and Shannon Johnson added 11 for Houston (14-16), which lost its fourth straight since returning from the league's month-long Olympic break. Michelle Snow had nine points and Sancho Lyttle scored eight as the Comets dropped into sixth-place tie with defending champion Phoenix - two games behind fourth-place Sacramento. Lyttle left the game with 2:07 to play with an undisclosed injury. After trailing by 13 in the second quarter, Houston pulled to 53-46 on Thompson's 10-foot jumper with about 4 minutes left in the third. The Sparks scored the next six points to restore their double-digit lead. Los Angeles raced out to a 21-11 lead after the first quarter, scoring 13 points off 11 Houston turnovers. The Sparks increased the advantage to 33-20 on Ferdinand-Harris' field goal with 6:22 left in the second quarter. The Comets had an 11-5 run to pull within seven with about 1:50 left in the half, and trailed 42-34 at the break.
NOTES
- Mistie Williams set a new career high in points with a team-high 17, including 8-of-12 field goals.
- Sancho Lyttle did not travel with the team after suffering a concussion and fracture to her right eye bone vs. Los Angeles (9/6).
- The Comets now hold a 0-6 record for back-to-back games during the 2008 season.
- With the loss tonight, Houston returns to a 0-5 streak - the same record that began their 2008 season.
- The Mercury's Diana Taurasi set a WNBA record for free throws made in one half with 15 made free throws tonight, breaking Tina Thompson's previous record set on June 11, 2007. Taurasi set a Mercury franchise record and a Comets opponent record for most free throws made in a single game (17), surpassing Cappie Pondexter's 15 free throws made on June 14 vs. Detroit.
Comets' Next Games:
September 9 at 7:30 p.m. CT vs. Connecticut Sun (Reliant Arena) - Breast Health Awareness Night
September 12 at 7:30 p.m. CT vs. Sacramento Monarchs (Reliant Arena) - Fan Appreciation Night
September 14 at 3:00 p.m. CT at Chicago Sky (UIC Pavilion)
*** End of Regular Season***
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