SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 16 (Ticker) -- The Utah Starzz spoiled Sheryl Swoopes' first playoff game in two years.

Adrienne Goodson scored 20 points and Margo Dydek added 11 and 13 rebounds as the Starzz won a playoff game for the first time with a 66-59 victory over the Houston Comets.

NBA TV highlights from Comets-Starzz: 56k | 300k

Utah took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series and can advance to the Western Conference finals in Game 2 at Houston on Sunday. Swoopes, who missed all of last year with a torn ACL, finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds but saw the Comets fall to 16-4 in playoff games with her in the lineup.

Houston went cold for a stretch of over 12 minutes as it missed 17 consecutive shots and Utah took advantage. The Starzz outscored the Comets, 24-7, over that span and Jennifer Azzi's 3-pointer with 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half gave the Starzz their largest lead at 34-17.

The Starzz are one win away from their first trip to the Western Conference Finals. Kent Horner NBAE/Getty Images

LaTonya Johnson's basket gave Utah a 54-38 advantage with 10:49 left, but the Comets ran off 10 straight points and got within six on a basket by Swoopes. Houston continued to chip away and pulled within 61-59 on a pair of foul shots by Swoopes with just under three minutes remaining.

The Comets had a pair of chances to tie, but Swoopes had a turnover and rookie Michelle Snow came up short on a layup attempt. Azzi drained two foul shots with 72 seconds left for a four-point cushion.

Houston's Tina Thompson returned from a hip injury but missed a 3-pointer and Starzz guard Marie Ferdinand, who netted 12 points, made 1-of-2 at the line to seal the victory.