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Thompson's big first half lift Houston past Sacramento

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HOUSTON (AP) -- Tina Thompson scored 12 of her 21 points in the first half as the Houston Comets beat the Sacramento Monarchs 70-56 Saturday.

Tina Thompson
Houston Tina Thompson, center, has a beat on the ball against Sacramento's La'Keshia Frett, right.

The Comets (7-1), playing their second game after a 10-day layoff due to flood damage in the Compaq Center, have won seven consecutive games. Houston's only loss came against the Los Angeles Sparks in its season-opener.

"With two straight wins over Los Angeles and now Sacramento, it doesn't get any better than that," Houston coach Van Chancellor said. "We simply played our hearts out."

Sacramento (5-6) built a 20-10 lead in the first 8:40. Kedra Holland-Corn scored 11 of the Monarch's first 15 points on three 3-pointers and a layup.

Houston countered with a 24-9 run to close out the half, capped by a long 3-pointer by Coquese Washington with 5.7 seconds remaining.

Thompson scored seven of her 14 first-half point in the run, and rookie Amanda Lassiter hit a pair of 3-pointers to help the Comets to a 34-29 halftime lead.

"We've got a powerful, explosive team and we were able to use that strength to get back in the game," Washington said. "We got in a rhythm and did what we needed to do."

Ruthie Bolton-Holifield scored 12 consecutive points for Sacramento in the second half, including three consecutive 3-pointers, but the Comets responded with an 11-1 run and held on for the victory.

Bolton-Holifield shot 4-for-7 from 3-point range and finished with 15 points.

Houston, which eliminated Sacramento in the first round of the playoffs last season, extended its winning streak against the Monarchs to six games.

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WNBA Scoreboard

Sacramento team page

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