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  Monday, Jun. 12 8:00pm ET
Swoopes' double-double leads Comets
 
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HOUSTON (AP) -- After a close game in Utah over the weekend, Sheryl Swoopes made sure the Houston Comets were in control early.

Swoopes scored Houston's first nine points, finishing with 28 points and a season-high 10 rebounds, her first double-double of the year, as the Comets defeated the Starzz 107-85 Monday night.

Dalma Ivanyi, Sheryl Swoopes
Utah's Dalma Ivanyi, left, might have the position, but Houston's Sheryl Swoopes has the reach on this loose ball.

Swoopes, who shot 10-for-17 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, also had five steals as Western Conference-leading Houston improved to a league-best 7-1. The Comets are three-time defending WNBA champions.

"I think we wanted to make a statement ... to our fans, especially since the last game (a two-point victory)," Swoopes said. "I think we had better team defense. Our approach was different."

Cynthia Cooper added 24 points and six assists, and Tina Thompson scored 17 points for the Comets, who scored 26 points off 17 Utah turnovers.

"It was a small statement," Cooper said. "Our fans deserved it. We started playing tough defense. Utah's always tough. We respect them here, we respect them there. But the bottom line is to get the W. We got it there and we got it here."

Houston built a 52-34 halftime lead, its most points in the first half this season. The 107 points were the most by the Comets at Compaq Center.

Adrienne Goodson led the Starzz (3-4) with 24 points, and leading scorer Natalie Williams was held to four points on 1-for-8 shooting. Korie Hlede added 16 points and four assists before fouling out.

"We came out in the first half flat and that put us in the hole early," Goodson said. "We had too many turnovers and we were just not ready to play. We have come out flat in the last two games and it has really hurt us. I felt like we came out to play more in the second half, but we just put ourselves in too much of a hole in the first half."

The Comets announced at halftime that they will retire the No. 10 jersey of the late Kim Perrot, the point guard who died of cancer last year, on July 29 during halftime of a game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Compaq Center. It will be the first jersey retired in WNBA history.

"Kim Perrot has always had a special place in my heart," Houston coach Van Chancellor said. "I don't think we'd enjoy the success we've had without her."
 


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RECAPS
Charlotte 78
Detroit 67

Houston 107
Utah 85

Cleveland 83
Indiana 70

AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 Sheryl Swoopes makes the steal and hits the 3-pointer.
avi: 1067 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Cynthia Cooper scores from all over the floor for the Houston Comets.
avi: 1138 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

audio
 Van Chancellor says his team played well on both ends of the floor.
wav: 207 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 At halftime, an emotional Van Chancellor announces the retirement of Kim Perrot's jersey.
wav: 144 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6