SEATTLE, Aug. 9 (Ticker) -- A career night by Sheryl Swoopes was not enough for the slumping Houston Comets.

Swoopes scored a career-high 34 points but Lauren Jackson nearly matched her with 27 as the Comets dropped a 71-68 decision to the Seattle Storm.

On-Demand Video from Comets-Storm: Play

The win pushed Seattle (15-12) past Houston (15-13), which has lost three straight, into second place in the Western Conference, five games behind idle Sacramento.

The 34-year-old Swoopes, who entered the game ranked second in the WNBA with a scoring average of 18.0 points, scored just four through the first 16-plus minutes before leading a Comets' charge.

She finished the first half with nine points and gave Houston its first lead, 41-39, with a jumper less than four minutes into the second. The 6-0 forward scored seven straight points in just over a minute to pull the Comets into a 62-62 tie with 4:14 left.

Tanisha Wright answered for the Storm to give her club the lead for good.

Swoopes shot 15-of-24 and matched a season high with three 3-pointers in five attempts. Michelle Snow added 13 points for Houston.

Jackson was 9-of-13 from the floor and grabbed nine rebounds as Seattle won its sixth straight at home.