SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 16 (AP) -- Chelsea Newton scored a career-high 17 points and the Sacramento Monarchs pulled away in the second half Saturday night for a 75-63 victory over the winless Houston Comets.

The Comets have opened the season with 10 straight losses, eight by 10 or more points. Houston had never had more than a four-game losing streak in the franchise's previous 10 seasons, all under coach Van Chancellor, who retired after the 2006 season.

Trailing for most of the game, the Monarchs (7-3) ended the third quarter with an 8-0 run for a 47-40 lead. Nicole Powellscored four straight points to put Sacramento ahead for good and Yolanda Griffith followed with two more baskets for the seven-point cushion.

The Monarchs ran off 10 consecutive points early in the fourth and led by as many as 18 in winning their second straight game and moving past Los Angeles for first place in the Western Conference.

Griffith, who is playing with a sore thumb in the early season, scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half. Rebekkah Brunson had 12 points and Scholanda Robinson added 10.

Bothered throughout by the Monarchs aggressive defense and a lack of ball movement, Houston committed 28 turnovers, including 22 in the first three quarters.

Tina Thompson, who scored 33 points in last Monday's 15-point loss to Sacramento, was doubled teamed throughout the game and had most of her 24 points in the game's final five minutes.

Hamchetou Maiga-Ba added 12 points for the Comets, who were outscored 21-10 in the third quarter.

Kara Lawson missed all eight shots and had two points for Sacramento after scoring 24 points in her last game against Houston.

Thompson scored eight points and Maiga-Ba had seven to help Houston take a 30-26 lead. Playing their worst half of the season, the Monarchs shot 26 percent and committed 12 turnovers.