Lynx Still Can’t Solve Comets

Tina Thompson had 17 points and 10 rebounds and the Houston Comets withstood a Minnesota rally for a 59-52 victory over the Lynx before 8,756 at Minneapolis on Saturday.

Janeth Arcain had 15 points for the Comets (10-2), who have defeated Minnesota in eight games the teams have played.

Katie Smith scored 18 points and Erin Buescher, a former standout at The Master’s College, added a career-high 16 for the Lynx (5-6), who set a WNBA record for first-half futility by scoring just 11 points.

They nearly made up for it in the second half.

Trailing 22-11, Minnesota opened the half with a 24-15 run to pull within two points with 10 minutes left. Shanele Stires’ three-point basket with 5:58 remaining put the Lynx up, 46-45, their first lead since the opening minutes of the game.

But the Comets went seven for eight from the free-throw line down the stretch and closed the game with a 14-6 run.

Minnesota took a 3-2 lead at the 17:30 mark, but could not score again until Maylana Martin’s basket with 3:53 left in the first half. In between, the Lynx missed 18 shots and fell behind, 18-3.

The 33 combined first-half points tied a WNBA record. Minnesota’s two first-half field goals, and 6.9% shooting (two for 29), both marked franchise lows.

Charlotte 58, Cleveland 55--Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 14 points as the Sting snapped the Rockers’ WNBA-best seven-game winning streak before 6,077 at Charlotte, N.C.

The Sting, which broke its franchise-record seven-game losing streak on Wednesday, have won three consecutive to improve to 4-10.

Allison Feaster had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Charlotte.

Rushia Brown led Cleveland (10-4) with 16 points. Merlakia Jones added 15 and Chastity Melvin scored 11.

Sacramento 65, Seattle 59--Yolanda Griffith scored 15 points and Kendra Holland-Corn added 13 before 7,048 at Seattle as the Monarchs won their second consecutive game under new Coach Maura McHugh.

The Monarchs dominated the Storm, 33-16, on the boards with Tangela Smith pulling down nine rebounds.

New York 72, Orlando 60--Tari Phillips scored 16 points and the Liberty held the Miracle scoreless over the final 2 1/2 minutes before 15,354 at New York for its eighth win in nine games.

Phillips scored 12 points in the second half and had 14 rebounds for the Liberty (9-4), which finished the game with a 12-0 run. Crystal Robinson, who had two three-pointers in the final run, and Vickie Johnson each had 14 points for New York.