Comets open with loss

May 17, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Houston Comets News Release


The Houston Comets began the 2008 WNBA regular season against the Detroit Shock at The Palace of Auburn Hills by posting a 66-85 loss. Tina Thompson, who is now in her twelfth season as a Comets player, led her team in scoring with 17 points, followed by rookie Matee Ajavon and Mwadi Mabika who each earned 12 points. Thompson also grabbed eight boards. The Shock's Katie Smith led all scorers with 21 points to note her 96th career game scoring 20 or more points and Alexis Hornbuckle tied the Shock franchise record for steals with seven. Houston posted a .431 field goal percentage (25-58) to Detroit's .394 (28-71), but it was charity stripe shooting that made the difference. Detroit sunk .875 (21-24) from the line to Houston's .667 (12-18). The all-time Comets vs. Shock series now stands and 13-5 and extends the road series record to 7-3.

Comets' Next Game: May 25, 3 p.m. CDT, against the Washington Mystics at Verizon Center

Upcoming Events: Sunday, May 18, the Houston Comets will arrive from Detroit and head directly to the Reliant Arena "Sneak Peek" for season ticket holders and fans who would like to meet the 2008 team. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

Houston Comets Head Coach & General Manager Karleen Thompson:

On the game

"Detroit did a great job defensively. They played very physically and made the team work for each basket. The good thing about playing a team like this on the road is that it allows you assess what you need work and build on. Everyone has to come to play."

On the Comets' shortcomings

"We need to work on our chemistry as a team. We need to do the intangible things like getting boards, fighting for loose balls, just improving effort, which was lacking today."

Houston Comets Forward Tina Thompson:

On the Comets' effort

"The game was pretty close, we defended well and we were able to stop them from doing the things they like to do. We lost our focus at points, especially in the third quarter. They got to the free throw line a lot and accumulated a 10-to 14-point lead. We cut that down a bit, but not enough. Detroit is a good team. They've been to the Finals and won a couple times. You have to come out and play them hard and we didn't do that today."

Detroit Shock Head Coach Bill Laimbeer:

On the line-up combinations

"We're trying to find combinations that fit together. It's difficult right now to see who can play with who and who can guard who, especially when teams play three guards like they do (Comets).

On Cheryl Ford

"That's Cheryl's first game in a while. She really played hard and I thought she did well. She gets frustrated because she can't do things that she used do just because of repetition and not because of her injury. She just hasn't practiced enough."



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 17, 2008


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