HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Mercury sent an early message to the Houston Comets that this is a new season.

In their first visit of the year to the Compaq Center, the Mercury trounced the three-time defending WNBA champion Comets, 80-62, ending a pair of long streaks in the process.

The Mercury had been 0-8 in Houston, including a pair of losses in the 1998 Finals after they had won the best-of-three series opener at home. Phoenix ended Houston's 13-game regular-season home winning streak, the longest in WNBA history.

"We went 0-6 here before today and I don't know if this is a total exorcism but I was very proud of our performance," Phoenix coach Cheryl Miller said. "They're an incredible team and even with the lead I wasn't satisfied because this team is so explosive. We just tried to stay poised and execute."

Brandy Reed scored a career-high 32 points for the Mercury, who took charge early and never let up. Acquired from Minnesota during the offseason, Reed made 13-of-18 shots as Phoenix shot a blistering 55 percent (33-of-60).

"I didn't want to come in and score 30 points and we not win the game," Reed said. "I don't know if we were trying to send a message to the WNBA but we're a talented team and definitely a force to be reckoned with. It was our execution as a unit and when you have that, it's a lot easier to score."

Tonya Edwards scored 16 points and Michelle Griffiths added 11. They combined with Reed for 31 points in the first half, two more than the entire Comets team managed, as Phoenix opened a 43-29 halftime advantage.

Sheryl Swoopes scored a season-high 31 points as she led the Comets (3-1) in scoring for the fourth time in as many games. However, she did not get much help as Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson combined for just 19 points as Houston shot 44 percent (21-of-48) and committed 17 turnovers.

"Let's give Phoenix the credit," Comets coach Van Chancellor said. "They came in and took it to us. Reed played an outstanding game and overall they played really good defensively and got us out of sync. They picked up a lot of good players in the offseason."

Cooper was held to six points on 2-of-7 shooting, the first time in her career she has not reached double figures. The two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and three-time WNBA Finals MVP clearly has been the league's best player since its 1997 inception.

"We really focused on executing on defense," said Mercury guard Michele Timms, who hounded Cooper for most of the game. "Whenever I step out on the court, I always get psyched up to guard Cooper. I don't think she's ever been held to under double figures, so that was a big lift for the team."

Reed scored 10 points in a 17-4 surge that turned a tie game into a 24-11 advantage with 9:03 remaining in the first half.

"For whatever reason, we came out flat and we just weren't aggressive," Swoopes said.

Houston trailed by 14 points at halftime and got no closer. A three-point play by Reed, layups by Griffiths and Edwards and two free throws by Reed fueled a 9-0 burst and gave Phoenix its largest lead at 57-33 with 15:51 to play.