HOUSTON, July 12, 2007 (AP) -- Michelle Snow tied a career high with 24 points and had nine rebounds to lead the Houston Comets to an 87-77 win over Minnesota on Thursday, when the Lynx learned they lost guard Lindsey Harding for the season.

An MRI confirmed that Harding, this year's No. 1 pick, has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. She injured the knee Tuesday in Washington.

The Lynx, who have lost six straight, went on a 9-0 run to pull within 80-74 on Tiffany Stansbury's layup with 1:44 remaining. Tina Thompson's three-point play 40 seconds later put the game away for the Comets.

Houston went on a 13-5 run to start the fourth quarter and led 76-61 with 5:18 remaining after a 3-pointer by Thompson.

Seimone Augustus had 11 points in the third quarter for the Lynx, who cut a 13-point halftime deficit to four with 2:53 remaining in the third on a layup by Shay Murphy. Augustus led Minnesota with 24 points on 11-of-25 shooting, and Murphy added 14 points.

Thompson had 22 points and seven rebounds for Houston, and reserve Tamecka Dixon added 15 points.

Houston forward Sancho Lyttle left with back spasms with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter and didn't return.