HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Comets try to avoid losing
their first-round series for the third straight year Tuesday
night as they host the Sacramento Monarchs in Game 3 of
their Western Conference series.
Houston won the first four WNBA titles, but lost to Los Angeles
and Utah in the first round each of the last two seasons.
The Comets responded to Friday's series-opening loss by rolling
to a 69-48 victory on Sunday. They never trailed as Tina
Thompson scored 11 of her 17 points in the first half.
Sheryl Swoopes added 14 points for Houston, which built a 34-19
halftime lead and picked up the win despite shooting 40 percent
(25-for-63).
The Monarchs, who reached the Western Conference finals in 2001,
shot just 32 percent (20-for-62) and failed to post their second
playoff series triumph.
Yolanda Griffith collected 20 points and 11 rebounds to pace the
Monarchs.