Cooper’s 20 Leads Comet Comeback

Former USC star Cynthia Cooper scored 20 points and the Houston bench combined for 34 points to lead the Comets to a 76-58 victory over the Utah Starzz in front of an announced 6,529 at Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Houston (3-1) also got 14 points from Tammy Jackson and 13 from Fran Harris.

The Houston bench combined for 23 points in the second half alone when the Utah (1-3) defense faltered. Houston led by 21 in the final half minute.

Cooper scored 12 points in the second half and Jackson added 11. Down by six early, Houston stormed back to lead, 30-24, at halftime.

Utah scored the first six points and the game. But Houston tied the score, 8-8, when Harris launched successive three-point baskets to ignite Houston, which scored the next 15 points and never trailed again.

Utah’s Wendy Palmer scored 14 points.

Phoenix 68, Cleveland 63--Michele Timms scored 13 points, and made all three of her three-point shots, and the Mercury beat the Rockers in front of an announced 5,930 at Cleveland.

Timms was one of four players in double figures for Phoenix, which is coached by former USC player and coach Cheryl Miller. Jennifer Gillom and Bridget Pettis each had 14, and Marlies Askamp had 11 off the bench for Phoenix.

Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman-Cline played 10 scoreless minutes for Phoenix, which improved to 2-1 and got its first road victory.

Michelle Edwards scored 14 for Cleveland, 12 in the second half. However, she left the game with 6:16 left because of a hyper-extended left leg.

Cleveland (1-2) led 57-56 with 4:29 left, but Gillom made a three-point shot to start a 12-6 run.