Monarchs Take Early Lead

Monarchs 65, Comets 59

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Tangela Smith and Yolanda Griffith each scored 17 points Friday night to lead the Sacramento Monarchs to a 65-59 victory over the Houston Comets in the opening game of their best-of-three WNBA playoff series.

Sacramento saw a 15-point lead shrink to 60-59 when Janeth Arcain scored on a driving layup with 23 seconds left.

But Kara Lawson made a free throw and Griffith and Smith combined for four more in the final 10 seconds to give Sacramento the win.

Game 2 is Sunday in Houston.

Sheryl Swoopes had 27 points and nine rebounds for the Comets. She led a second rally for Houston, which scored 11 straight points to pull within 48-44 with 5:37 remaining.

It was the fourth straight loss for Houston, which prior to the three-game losing streak to end the regular season had never lost more than two straight games.

Lawson had 12 points and DeMya Walker added eight for Sacramento. Smith had 10 rebounds.

The Comets had serious offensive problems and Swoopes scored their first 15 points. It wasnt until Ukari Figgs made a 3-pointer with 4:38 in the first half that another Houston player scored.

The opposite was true of the Monarchs, who went 14-for-27 from the field in taking a 32-21 halftime lead.

It was a struggle most of game for Tina Thompson, Houstons leading scorer during the regular season. Thompson, who scored seven points, missed her first seven shots and didnt have a point until finally connecting from the perimeter with 13:02 to play.

Arcain added 13 points and rebounds.