Lawson keys Monarchs over winless Comets

HOUSTON (AP) — Kara Lawson scored 24 points to lead the Sacramento Monarchs to an 82-67 victory over the winless Houston Comets on Monday night.

Lawson shot 8-for-10 from the field, including 5-for-6 on 3-pointers. Nicole Powell added 17 points and Rebekkah Brunson 14 for the Monarchs (6-3), who won for the fourth time in five games.

Tina Thompson scored a season-high 33 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the floor and 17-for-18 on free throws to lead the Comets (0-7). Houston’s longest losing streak before this season was four games, reached once during the 2005 season and twice in 2004.

Thompson’s layup 13 seconds into the third period pulled the Comets to 32-28, before the Monarchs scored nine straight points.

After two free throws by Thompson, Ticha Penicheiro hit a 3 to give Sacramento a 44-30 lead.

Lawson hit three 3s around a jumper by Thompson to stretch the Monarchs’ lead to 53-36, its biggest of the game, with 2:13 to go in the third.

Thompson’s jumper with 7:17 left in the game pulled Houston to 61-53, but the Monarchs pulled away again.

Latasha Byears, who scored nine points for Houston, was ejected from the game with 23 seconds left after receiving her second technical.

Lawson made the ensuing free throw to push the lead back to 17.