Liberty Ends Comets’ Winning Streak

Sophia Witherspoon scored 22 points Sunday as the New York Liberty held off the two-time defending WNBA champion Houston Comets, 74-71, before a sellout crowd of 19,563 at New York.

Witherspoon scored 13 second-half points for the Liberty (14-11), which ended the Comets’ seven-game winning streak.

Trailing, 72-71, with 17 seconds to play, Cynthia Cooper could not convert as Sue Wicks and Teresa Weatherspoon double-teamed her and stole the ball.

Sonja Henning was forced to foul Crystal Robinson, who made two free throws for the final margin. Cooper’s desperation three-point shot at the buzzer fell short.

Cooper, the league’s leading scorer, finished with 26 points on nine-of-16 shooting. Tina Thompson scored 19 and Sheryl Swoopes had 15 for the Comets, who made 57% of their shots.

Wicks had 14 points and nine rebounds and Robinson added 12 points for the Liberty, which outrebounded the Comets, 30-21.

With the victory, New York regained a share of the Eastern Conference lead with the Charlotte Sting with seven games remaining. Houston (21-5) clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference on Friday.

Washington 80, Cleveland 45--Nikki McCray scored 20 points in front of a crowd of 15,512 at Washington to help the Mystics to their franchise-record fourth consecutive victory.

Michelle Edwards and Chasity Melvin scored eight points apiece for the Rockers, who lost for the fourth consecutive game.

The Mystics, who have not lost this month, also set franchise records for largest margin of victory and field goals made with 32. They matched a season high by making five three-point baskets.

The Mystics held the Rockers to 28.6% shooting. The last time the Rockers visited the MCI Center--on July 21--they made 63.2% of their shots to set a WNBA record.