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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Cynthia Cooper is doing her best to
end her WNBA career with a fourth straight title.
Cooper, who plans to retire after the season, scored 25 points
as the three-time defending champion Houston Comets opened the
playoffs with a 72-64 victory over Sacramento on Saturday.
|  | | Houston's Cynthia Cooper, right, will retire at the end of this season. |
"Many things have been said by other people, but the decision
is mine," Cooper said. "I'm retiring at the end of this season."
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is Monday night in Houston.
If necessary, a third game will be Tuesday in Houston. The Comets
are 11-3 in the playoffs in the four-year history of the league.
In a back-and-forth second half, Cooper made the biggest shot.
Following a Sacramento turnover, she hit a 3-pointer for a 61-57
lead. On Houston's next possession, Cooper connected on a
16-footer, giving the Comets a 63-57 lead with 2:32 remaining.
The All-Star guard was 9-for-20 from the field, hitting two
3-pointers, and converted 5-of-6 free throws. She scored a combined
10 points in the last two games, including a career-low four points
in the final regular-season game against Minnesota.
"I don't think she will retire, but I wish she would,"
Sacramento coach Sonny Allen said. "She is a great player. She
helped them get back into the game in the first half and hit some
big shots in the second half. I hope she keeps her word."
The Monarchs, who led by as many as 11 points in the first half,
pulled within four at 63-59 on Ruthie Bolton-Holifield's basket.
But Tina Thompson scored off a rebound and added a free throw to
put Houston ahead 66-59 with 1:06 left.
"You can't give Houston anything and they made some big shots
that turned the game around," Bolton-Holifield said.
Sheryl Swoopes had 13 points for Houston and Thompson finished
with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Bolton-Holifield scored 16 points for Sacramento. Tangela Smith
had 13 and Ticha Penicheiro added 12 before fouling out late in the
game. Yolanda Griffith added 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Trailing by 11 points late in the first half, Cooper ignited an
11-0 run, scoring seven points as Houston tied it at 35 with 55
seconds remaining.
"With four minutes left I was ready to read them the riot
act," Houston coach Val Chancellor said. "But then we turned it
around. That's where we won the game."
Bolton-Holifield, who scored 11 first-half points, made two free
throws in the final second as Sacramento took a 37-35 lead into
halftime.
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ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
WNBA playoff schedule
RECAPS
Houston 72
Sacramento 64
New York 72
Washington 63
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