SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 19 (Ticker) -- Sheryl Swoopes scored 22 of her season-high 29 points in the second half and Michelle Snow hit a go-ahead layup with nine seconds remaining as the Houston Comets posted a 74-71 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs.

Dominique Canty tallied nine points off the bench. Rocky Widner/WNBAE/Getty Images

Swoopes shot just 7-of-19 from the field, but also made 12-of-12 foul shots. Janeth Arcain added 19 and Snow chipped in with 10 for the Comets, who shot 49 percent from the field and made 19-of-23 foul shots.

But Houston squandered a 15-point lead and had to rally from a five-point deficit in the final 42 seconds. Swoopes hit a long 3-pointer to pull the Comets within 71-70 with 22 seconds remaining.

Sacramento's Kara Lawson was fouled and missed both free throws with 19 seconds left. Swoopes missed a layup on Houston's next possession, but Snow grabbed the rebound and scored with nine seconds remaining, giving the Comets a 72-71 lead. Swoopes added a pair of free throws with five seconds left.

The Monarchs had a three-game winning streak snapped under new coach John Whisenant, who replaced Maura McHugh on July 10. Yolanda Griffith led Sacramento with 15 points.

The Comets built their biggest lead at 32-17 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half, but Sacramento closed the half with a 9-2 run.

The Monarchs took their first lead of the second half, 64-63 on a pair of free throws by Lawson with 2:10 left. A 3-pointer by Lawson increased the advantage to 70-65 with 42 seconds remaining.