Comets Need Two Overtimes to Prevail

With her team one loss from WNBA playoff elimination, Sheryl Swoopes said she never felt as if the Houston Comets were out of the game.

It took two overtimes Sunday, but she made sure she was right, recording 28 points and six steals in an 83-77 victory over the Utah Starzz before 9,241 at Houston. It evened the Western Conference best-of-three semifinal series at one game each.

“We’ve been in this position before, and we know what it takes to come back,” said Swoopes, who received the defensive-player-of-the-year award at the game.

The teams were tied, 65-65, at the end of regulation play and, 73-73, at the end of the first overtime. In the second overtime, Janeth Arcain, who had 17 points, got the opening tip and made an 18-foot shot that began a 9-0 run.

Swoopes had cramps in her calves with 10:23 left in regulation. She left the court but returned to push Houston into overtime.

“I was lots concerned,” Comet Coach Van Chancellor said. “I kept walking to the end of the bench and I couldn’t find her. But let’s give Utah credit. They put a giant in the middle, and she was blocking shots.”

Margo Dydek, Utah’s 7-foot-2 center, had 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Starzz had a 60-54 advantage with 4:30 to play and retained the lead until Arcain’s jump shot with 23 seconds left tied it, 65-65. Utah played for the final shot of regulation, but Marie Ferdinand, who had 22 points, was blocked near the basket. Houston didn’t get a shot in the closing seconds.

New York 84, Indiana 65--Tamika Whitmore scored 24 points and the Liberty made 59% of its shots, including five of 10 three-point attempts, to even the Eastern Conference semifinal series at one game apiece before 10,988 at Madison Square Garden.

Tamika Catchings led Indiana with 20 points but had only two field goals after halftime.

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WNBA Playoffs

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WESTERN CONFERENCE

Best of three

No. 1 Sparks vs. No. 4 Seattle

Sparks win series, 2-0

Sparks 78, at Seattle 61

at Sparks 69, at Seattle 59

No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Utah

Series tied, 1-1

at Utah 66, Houston 59

at Houston 83, Utah 77, 2 OT

Tuesday at Houston...4:30, Oxygen

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Best of three

No. 1 New York vs. No. 4 Indiana

Series tied, 1-1

at Indiana 73, New York 55

at New York 84, Indiana 65

Tuesday at New York...5, Oxygen

No. 2 Charlotte vs. No. 3 Washington

Washington wins series, 2-0

at Washington 74, Charlotte 62

Washington 62, at Charlotte 59

All times PDT