SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- Tina Thompson scored 19 of her career-high 28 points in the first half as the Houston Comets recorded their 12th straight win against the Utah Starzz, 83-66, continuing the most one-sided series in WNBA history.

The Comets (10-2) improved to 14-1 against Utah, the most victories against one team in league history, and have not lost to them since August 2, 1997. They are the first team to reach double figures in victories this season and own a one-game lead over second-place Los Angeles in the Western Conference.

Thompson made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points during a 20-4 spurt as Houston opened a 37-21 lead with 6:17 left in the first half and was not threatened thereafter. Point guard Janeth Arcain chipped in five points in the run and backup Jennifer Rizzotti added four.

Cynthia Cooper scored 19 points and Sheryl Swoopes 14 for the Comets, who have won seven of their last eight and swept three games from the Starzz this season.

"It's always nice to pick up a win on the road, but you don't often have such complete control of a game when you're on the road," Cooper said. "I know they have been playing a lot of games lately and it may have caught up to them."

Thompson was 8-of-12 from the floor and Cooper 9-of-16 as Houston shot 48 percent (27-of-56) and improved to 7-1 at the Delta Center. The Comets converted 16 Starzz turnovers into 24 points.

"It was just a good night," Thompson said. "We had somebody hot throughout he game. Even when they put on their run, we never felt panic or anything. We just stayed within our game and pulled out the win."

Utah moved within eight points in the second half but never posed a serious threat as it fell for the second straight game after winning four straight.

"We were up by 20 and it got brought down to eight, but then we shot and scored. Should I have taken my starters out? No," Houston coach Van Chancellor said. "If I would have taken out my starters, we would have gotten beat. I don't want the crowd to get into that."

Adrienne Goodson scored 18 points and Margo Dydek chipped in 13 for the Starzz, who shot 37 percent (22-of-60) from the floor. They had their three-game home winning streak halted and fell to 5-3 at the Delta Center this season.

"In the first half, we were playing with them neck-and-neck and we came out with some good energy. Then all of a sudden the momentum switched and we just never got it back," Goodson said.

All-Star forward Natalie Williams returned for Utah after missing three games with a strained lower back. She scored nine points on 2-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds.

"We just weren't getting the calls," Williams said. "We were just taking the ball inside strong and we just didn't get any calls."