SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 25 (Ticker) -- Solid performances by Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson gave the Houston Comets a measure of revenge.

Swoopes scored 22 points and Thompson added 19 to lead the Comets to a 81-66 victory over the defending champion Sacramento Monarchs.

NBA TV highlights from Comets-Monarchs: Play

After dropping four of five to Sacramento last year, including a two-game playoff sweep in September, the Comets snapped a five-game road losing streak against the Monarchs, handing them their first loss of the season.

The league's only three-time Most Valuable Player, Swoopes made 8-of-15 shots. She scored 13 points in the third quarter, including a three-point play with 2:13 left that gave the Comets a 57-38 lead.

Coming off a 19-point performance in Tuesday's win over Seattle, Thompson hit 7-of-14 shots. The five-time All-Star nailed the first two baskets of the fourth quarter, widening Houston's advantage to 68-44.

Houston held Sacramento to nine points in the opening quarter and never relinquished the lead, shooting 52 percent (27-of-52), including 7-of-18 from the arc.

Nicole Powell scored nine points for the Monarchs, who shot just 35 percent (20-of-57) and missed 13 free throws.