 Sheryl Swoopes and the Comets ran into a determined Monarchs squad in Game 3.
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Houston erased a 12-point Monarchs lead tied the game at 68-all when forward Sheryl Swoopes converted a driving layup with eight seconds remaining. Sacramento, however, would have the final say on this night. Monarchs point guard Ticha Penicheiro, who had made only one field goal in the entire series, hoisted up a runner with 2.8 seconds remaining that bounced of the glass and found its way into the hoop. Swoopes had a chance to tie, but could not manage to get a shot off in time after having to drive the entire length of the court.
In a season where the Comets battled numerous injuries and just seemed to be snakebitten throughout the year, it seems ironic that the WNBA’s assists leader would be the player to make the shot that ultimately closed the curtain on Houston's championship hopes and seven successful years in Compaq Center. Penicheiro finished the night with only three points, with the game-winning shot serving as her only field goal.
“What a way to end the season,” said Comets Head Coach Van Chancellor. “She (Penicheiro) hadn’t scored against us all series, that probably would have been the player we would have allowed to take the shot.”
Penicheiro’s basket was indeed the dagger but it was not the sole factor in the Comets' surprising defeat. Houston struggled from the opening tipoff, trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half. The Monarchs, led by All-Star center Yolanda Griffith, came out determined and posted 44 points in the first half alone.
“We followed a great game plan defensively on Sunday (8/31) and we just got away form that plan,” Chancellor said. “We weren’t nearly aggressive. We haven’t given up 44 points in a half since I don’t know when…I can’t remember a game like that. We weren’t aggressive defensively in the first half and that’s what got us in trouble and eventually beat us. I told them I was proud of them for coming back. I was proud of them for everything they did. I just wish we hadn’t dropped so far behind.”
Michelle Snow had a fantastic second WNBA season but Yolanda Griffith proved to be too much in the series.
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“Yolanda was a superstar,” said Sacramento Head Coach John Whisenant. “You can see why she’s been MVP of the league. Michael Cooper (L.A. Sparks coach) told me since I’ve been in the league, she’s the best rebounder in the league period. She had some early season woes and had not played up to Yolanda’s standards, but she’s stepping up now like the Yolanda I’ve been told about before I even came to Sacramento."
Sacramento’s Game 3 triumph was more about what the Monarchs did well than what the Comets didn’t do. Houston placed four players in double figures led by Tina Thompson, who tied a playoff high with 21 points. Swoopes contributed 15 points but shot an uncharacteristic 0-of-4 from three-point range. The league’s Defensive Player of the Year went down with an ankle injury in the midst of the Comets comeback, but returned to the floor for the final minutes of the contest.
“I think the turning point was when Sheryl (Swoopes) went down and hurt her ankle, and they brought in a player, but it was then only Tina,” said Griffith.
The Monarchs were clicking on all cylinders in their Game 3 victory. Guard Edna Campbell went on a hot streak and poured in 12 total points. Forward DeMya Walker followed up a four-point effort in Game 2 with 15 points in the finale.
“Did we give the effort that we needed to come out with a victory?” asked Thompson. “Sacramento came out and they played very aggressive. Did we expect them to come out and lie down? No, we didn’t. I think certain aspects of the game we could have been a little bit more effective and we weren’t. To lose at the buzzer I don’t think is any different than to lose by 20. A loss is a loss. I think that they all feel the same. The fact that we are going home, that has a different feeling than the regular season because this is it.”
While Houston must enter the offseason on a crushing note, the Comets have to take solace in the play of Snow. Their young center will only get better and should play an even bigger role next year. The Comets are not that far off from being a championship team. They could have easily accomplished that feat this season but the ball just didn’t bounce their way. As long as Swoopes and Thompson are on the court, I believe Houston will be competitive in any contest. Fact of the matter is the Comets simply lost too many close games this season.
“This is two years in a row that we’ve bowed out of a playoff year at home and just heart-breaking, gut-wrenching losses,” said Chancellor. “I can tell you that now. What we’re doing is we’re having to play…in the last two years there are three really good teams in our division and we’re having to play one…last year it was Utah, this year it’s Sacramento. This has been a tough, tough year. Not a long year, but a tough one. We’ve been so close about 3three times and just can’t get over the hump. I really feel for our players, I really do.”
The Monarchs move on to play the Los Angeles Sparks in the second round, a position the Comets would have loved to be in. Instead, Houston can only dream about what could have been and look forward to playing in its plush new Toyota Center next season. The Comets exited Compaq Center with a 91-20 record, which is the best home record in WNBA history. Their first four seasons ended with confetti falling from the rafters and a championship in hand, but unfortunately their seventh season ended with Penicheiro turning out the lights.
“I felt like we had a great team this year,” Swoopes said. "We had a wonderful opportunity to do something great, but unfortunately, it just didn’t happen. Hopefully, we will get there next year.”
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