HOUSTON (AP) -- The four-time defending WNBA champion Houston
Comets won't go away, not even after being flooded out of their
home court for 10 days.
|  | | Tina Thompson pumps in two of her career-high 29 points in the Comets' big win |
Janeth Arcain hit two baskets in the final 22 seconds and Tina
Thompson scored a career-high 29 points as the Comets ended the Los
Angeles Sparks' season-opening WNBA record nine-game winning streak
with a 69-65 victory Thursday night.
"This is very satisfying. This really makes the other teams
take a look at us and say `hey they're still up there,"' Thompson
said.
The Comets lost to the Sparks in their season opener 66-63 and
then won five in a row. They had been idle the past 10 days because
of repairs at Compaq Center from flooding caused by the remnants of
Tropical Storm Allison.
The Comets didn't seem rusty.
"I've been saying all along that we'd be fine," Thompson said.
"It's not like we didn't play. We played games every day."
The Comets (6-1) trailed 63-62 when Arcain hit a turnaround
jumper with 22 seconds left that put Houston in the lead 64-63.
Coquese Washington sank two free throws with eight seconds
showing and as time ticked off the final second, Arcain broke free
and hit a 3-point basket. She finished with 17 points and had five
assists.
"It was a tough game. It was good for everyone," Arcain said.
"I've been looking forward to this game for a long time and it's
great to beat L.A."
The Comets got Lisa Leslie in early foul trouble and built a
34-23 lead with 2:18 left in the first half before the Sparks
closed it to 36-30 at intermission.
"I didn't even realize Tina had 29 tonight," Comets coach Van
Chancellor said. "She did a pretty good job. I didn't even get to
brag on her. I'll have to do that next time. After this win,
nothing surprises me."
Leslie led the Sparks (9-1) with 17 points and 14 rebounds for
her fifth double-double of the season.
"I thought it was a good game," Leslie said. "They just got a
few more points than we did right there at the end of the game."
It was only one loss to Leslie.
"There is no feelings about it. We're moving on," Leslie said.
"We've got another game tomorrow."
The Comets hadn't played since a last second victory over
Phoenix on June 10. Flood waters forced Houston to reschedule its
games.
With Leslie sitting out the final eight minutes of the first
half with three fouls, the Comets went on a 19-11 run for a 36-30
halftime lead.
The Sparks went scoreless for nearly four minutes during
Houston's run and had to have a scoring surge in the final minute
to close the gap. Ukari Figgs had a 3-point basket at the halftime
buzzer.
Sparks coach Michael Cooper missed the first half after
suffering a contusion on his left thigh before the game. He
remained in the Sparks dressing room while assistant Glenn McDonald
directed the team.
Cooper limped onto the court for the second half.
"It's a loss, no biggie," Cooper said. "If someone were to
say where would you like to be after 10 games, I would have said
6-4, or 7-3 but we're 9-1. I'm very happy about that."
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ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
Los Angeles team page
Houston team page
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Janeth Arcain gets the ball in the post and hits the turnaround for the game-winner.
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Houston's Tina Thompson dribble penetrates and hits the runner for 2 of her 29 points.
avi: 1062 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
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Lisa Leslie goes baseline and makes a terrific spin move for the layup.
avi: 1190 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
Cable Modem
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