Rockers beat Detroit 66-59 to even series

The two teams meet Tuesday for the right to meet Connecticut.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- LaToya Thomas had 16 points and eight rebounds Sunday, helping the Cleveland Rockers defeat the Detroit Shock 66-59 to even the first-round playoff at one game each.
The deciding game in the best-of-3 series is Tuesday night at the Palace, with the winner facing Connecticut in the Eastern Conference finals.
Cleveland lost reserve guard Merlakia Jones to a mild concussion in the first half after her head banged into Kedra Holland-Corn's hip. Her status for Game 3 is unclear.
Betty Lennox had 14 points for Cleveland while Penny Taylor scored 12 and Chasity Melvin added 10. Swin Cash led Detroit with 17 points, while Ruth Riley had 14 and Cheryl Ford had nine points and 11 rebounds.
Cleveland took a 23-13 lead as Detroit missed 15 of its first 18 shots, and was still ahead 39-28 edge at halftime. Detroit shot 25 percent for the half.
The Rockers went up 45-30, early in the second half. Cash had four points in an 11-3 run that drew Detroit to 48-41 with 11:57 to go, but the rally stalled. The Shock were down 55-50 with six minutes to play, but Cleveland scored the next seven points.
Comets 69, Monarchs 48
HOUSTON -- Tina Thompson scored 17 points and Sheryl Swoopes added 14 as Houston held off elimination.
The victory tied the series at 1-1 with the deciding game Tuesday night at Compaq Center.
Leading 34-19 at the half, Swoopes fueled a 19-4 charge early in the period that put the game out of reach. Thompson and Swoopes, who had eight points in the second half, sat out the final 6:42 while backups finished the game.
Houston never trailed in Game 2, jumping to a 24-6 lead in the opening minutes. Janeth Arcain led the Comets' first half charge. She hit three straight baskets and Ukari Figgs followed with a 3-pointer to make it 17-4.
After a basket by Sacramento's Tiocha Penicherio, Thompson hit a layup, Swoopes followed with a basket and Thompson hit a 3-pointer for the 24-6 lead, the Comets biggest lead of the half.
Yolanda Griffith led the Monarchs with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Tangela Smith added 12 points and Edna Campbell had 10. Arcain finished with 13 points for the Comets.