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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Sheryl Swoopes' jumper with three
seconds left in overtime gave the Houston Comets a 76-74 overtime
victory over the Detroit Shock on Friday night at The Palace.
|  | | Swoopes shows her versatility Friday night, swatting a shot by Shock guard Edwina Brown during the Comets' win. |
Houston led by as many as 21 points early, but Detroit rallied
to tie the game at 68 on Anna DeForge's 3-pointer with nine seconds
to play in regulation.
But Swoopes delivered in the clutch to give Houston its 12th victory in 13 games, and fifth
straight over the Shock.
Detroit (10-12) has 10 games left in the season, six of them at
The Palace.
Cynthia Cooper led the Comets with a season-high 27 points, and
Swoopes added 21. Wendy Palmer had 22 points and 10 rebounds for
the Shock.
Houston outrebounded Detroit 44-32, led by 15 from Tiffani
Johnson and 13 from Tina Thompson.
The Comets took control with an early 25-4 run that put them
ahead 32-11 late in the first half. Cooper had eight of the points
and Swoopes six.
Houston led 43-30 at halftime, and by as many as 16 early in
the second half. Claudia Maria das Neves pulled Detroit within
nine, 60-51, with 9:45 to go.
The Shock chipped away at the Comets' lead, and got four points
each from DeForge and Edwina Brown to pull within 68-65 with 90
seconds to go.
Houston turned the ball over, but Swoopes blocked Brown's jumper
that could have made it a one-point game.
Jenna Arcain missed a jumper that could have clinched the game
with 17 seconds left, giving Detroit a last chance, and DeForge
rattled in a triple from the right wing to tie it.
Dominique Canty stripped Swoopes, but her desperation heave fell
short at the buzzer.
After Johnson started overtime with two free throws, Palmer went
on a 6-2 run of her own to put Detroit up 74-72 with 2:19 to go.
Thompson retied the game, and Palmer missed on the next two
possessions, leaving the score locked at 74 with 45 seconds left.
Each team turned the ball over on its next possession, leaving
Houston with five seconds to set up a game-winning shot.
Swoopes took an inbounds pass from Thompson, dribbled twice and
knocked down a baseline jumper to give the Comets a 76-74 lead with
three seconds left.
Palmer couldn't get a shot off as time expired.
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ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
RECAPS
Houston 76
Detroit 74
Miami 76
Utah 65
Washington 61
Orlando 59
Charlotte 73
Portland 64
Los Angeles 74
Phoenix 68
Seattle 67
Minnesota 61
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