HOUSTON, June 2 (AP) -- Katie Smith scored 13 of her 17 points in the final 11 minutes, Cheryl Ford and Swin Cash each had double-doubles, and the unbeaten Detroit Shock rallied from a late nine-point deficit to beat the Houston Comets 77-71 Saturday.

Ford had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Cash chipped in 14 points and 10 boards for defending WNBA champion Detroit (4-0), which played its first road game and matched its franchise-best start. The Shock finished the game on an 18-3 run in the final 3:47 after going more than 5 minutes without a field goal earlier in the fourth quarter.

Michelle Snow and Tina Thompson each scored 20 points for Houston (0-4), which played its first game without 10-year veteran star Sheryl Swoopes, out at least two weeks with a back injury. The Comets, who led by 10 late in the third quarter, have lost a double-digit lead in three of their four defeats.

Houston lost its first four games for the first time in franchise history - by an average of 14 points.

The Comets led 68-59 with 3:54 left after a rebound basket by Barbara Turner. But Smith's three-point play ended Detroit's drought and started its game-ending run.

Cash's three-point play gave Detroit a 69-68 lead with 1:43 left. The Shock finished 21-of-26 from the free throw line, including 7-of-7 by Smith, and outscored the Comets 21-9 from the line.