SEATTLE, May 27 (Ticker) -- Betty Lennox and the Seattle Storm were relentless in the second half.

Lennox scored 18 of her 24 points after halftime, when the Storm shot 75 percent from the field and rallied for a 79-69 victory over the Houston Comets.

Lauren Jackson scored 17 points and Janell Burse added 14 for defending WNBA champion Seattle, which was playing for the first time in six days and looked it in the first half.

After establishing a franchise low by shooting 23 percent in their season-opening loss to Los Angeles, the Storm shot just 33 percent (11-of-33) in the first half, digging themselves a 40-26 hole.

Seattle began the second half with a 21-6 surge to take the lead. Burse (eight points), Jackson (seven) and Lennox (six) accounted for all the points, with a follow shot by Burse giving the Storm a 47-46 edge.

Houston scored seven straight points before Seattle surged again, this time with a 24-6 spurt. Lennox scored 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Her basket with two minutes to go made it 71-60.

The WNBA Finals MVP, Lennox made 3-of-8 shots in the first half but 7-of-10 in the second half. The Storm made a blistering 18-of-24 shots after halftime.

Iziane Castro Marques scored 12 points and Sue Bird added nine and seven assists for the Storm, who improved to 6-12 all-time against the Comets.

Michelle Snow scored 17 points, Sheryl Swoopes added 16 and Janeth Arcain 14 for the Comets, who had won their first two games. Swoopes was hit with a technical foul that helped fuel Seattle's second run.