Comets Rally to Beat Storm in Game 2
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

SEATTLE: Sheryl Swoopes converted two defensive stands by Houston into four points in the final three minutes, and the Comets rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat the Seattle Storm 67-64 Thursday night.

The first round, best-of-three WNBA playoff series is tied at 1-1. Game 3 will be Saturday night in Seattle.

Swoopes scored 20 points for the Comets, 14 in the second half. Tina Thompson added 13 points, Janeth Arcain 12 and Michelle Snow 10.

Betty Lennox led Seattle with 16 points, but made just 6-of-20 shots. Nursing a sprained back Lauren Jackson added 14 and Janell Burse had 12.

The Comets trailed 47-37 with 15:30 left after consecutive 3-pointers by Iziane Castro Marques and Sue Bird.

The Storm's shooting struggled from there, as they scored just eight points over the next eight minutes, allowing the Comets to rally and take a 57-55 lead with 6:14 left on a reverse layup by Janeth Arcain. It was Houston's first lead since 2-0.

Lennox then scored five straight points for Seattle, making a 20-foot jumper, then beating Dawn Staley on a baseline drive and converting a three-point play after being fouled by Snow, with 4:08 left.

Thompson scored for the Comets and Burse responded for Seattle, giving the Storm a 62-59 lead. Snow scored on a tough reverse, then Swoopes stole a pass from Bird and scored to put the Comets up 63-62 with 2:06 left.

Lennox was then called for a charge, and Swoopes was fouled at the other end, making both free throws.

Lennox scored on a layup with 30 seconds left, and Houston turned over the inbound pass. Lennox missed a short jumper, but Staley stole the rebound from Burse. Arcain was fouled and made both free throws. Bird and Lennox missed tough 3-point attempts in the final seconds.

Houston made 13 of 22 shots in the second half, and outscored Seattle 25-5 at the free throw line. Houston has been swept only once in playoff history — in 2001 by Los Angeles.●