Houston 73, Sacramento 65

HOUSTON, July 5 (AP) -- Tina Thompson scored 19 points in her first game since missing four games because of a broken finger, leading the Houston Comets to a 73-65 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs on Saturday.

Thompson helped the Comets (9-9) reach .500 for the first time this season after they started the year 0-5. The Comets have won eight of their last 12.

Michelle Snow added 17 points, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba had 12 and Sancho Lyttle 10. Lyttle, who averaged more than 15 points while filling in for Thompson, also had 13 rebounds.

Nicole Powell scored 18 points for the Monarchs (8-10), and Laura Harper added 11. Sacramento has lost two straight and four of six overall.

Powell got the Monarchs within four at 68-64 with a 3-pointer, but Thompson answered with a 3 of her own less than a minute later to give the Comets a 71-64 lead with 2:54 to play.