SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 13 (Ticker) -- It wasn't as easy as the first three, but Nicole Powell and Yolanda Griffith kept the Sacramento Monarchs undefeated at home.

Powell hit a pair of 3-pointers and Griffith made six free throws late in the second half as the Monarchs edged the Houston Comets, 74-68.

Sacramento, which extended the best start in team history to 7-2, had won each of its first three games by an average of 18.0 points.

After Kristen Rasmussen knocked down a 3-pointer - her only basket of the game - to give the Comets a 66-63 lead with 1:51 remaining, Powell sparked an 11-2 closing run with her two shots from the arc.

Griffith converted five free throws in the final 51 seconds to secure the victory.

Powell made 5-of-8 3-point attempts and finished with 18 points.

Griffith, who led the Monarchs in scoring in each of the last three games, added 17 points, 10 rebounds and five rebounds f or Sacramento, which shot 54 percent (29-of-54) from the floor.

Sheryl Swoopes scored 12 of her 20 points in the second half for Houston, which has lost three straight games after winning four of its first five contests.