HOUSTON, June 10 (Ticker) -- Tina Thompson scored 22 points as the Houston Comets overcame the absence of injured stars Sheryl Swoopes and Cynthia Cooper and held on for a 71-66 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs on Tuesday.

NBA TV highlights from Monarchs-Comets: 56k | 300k Ukari Figgs and Co. celebrate their big victory over Sacramento. Bill Baptist/WNBAE/Getty Images

The Comets learned Monday that reigning league MVP Swoopes will miss two to three weeks with a moderate right ankle sprain. Houston already was without its other two-time league MVP -- the 40-year-old Cooper -- who is out with a right rotator cuff injury.

However, Thompson stepped up Tuesday. After tallying 14 points in the first half, she nailed a 3-pointer and a jumper as the Comets scored the first nine points of the second, putting Houston in front, 43-36.

The 6-2 forward hit another 3-pointer with just over nine minutes left to give the Comets their largest lead, 61-48.

But Sacramento battled back as Tangela Smith hit from the arc with just 55.4 seconds remaining and sliced the Monarchs' deficit to 67-66. Smith paced Sacramento with 17 points.

Janeth Arcain converted all four free throws down the stretch and helped Houston snap its two-game skid.