SACRAMENTO, Calif.(AP) Nicole Powell hit four 3-pointers and had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead the Sacramento Monarchs past the Houston Comets 80-65 on Saturday night.

Sacramento outscored Houston 30-14 in the third quarter to take control, highlighted by 13 unanswered points early in the quarter that gave them a 53-39 lead. Powell had two straight 3-pointers and Lawson followed with another to key the Monarchs' run.

Lawson also had four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points for the Monarchs, who have won nine of 10 games at home. Crystal Kelly had 12 points, Scholanda Robinson added 11 and Adrian Williams-Strong had eight points and eight rebounds.

It was a difficult evening for U.S. Olympic star Tina Thompson. The Houston forward went to the bench early in the first quarter with two fouls and played sparingly in the third quarter following a couple of turnovers. She finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Shannon Johnson had 12 points and five assists, but committed six of Houston's 21 turnovers.

The victory snapped a two-game losing streak and kept the Monarchs (16-13) in fourth place in the Western Conference, where the top four teams make the playoffs. The Monarchs will have nearly a week off, then play three of the their final five games on the road, starting Friday at Phoenix.

It was the second straight loss for Houston (14-14), which had won five straight before the Olympic break. The loss dropped the Comets into sixth place in the tight Western Conference race.

Houston, which is 3-12 on the road this season, plays four of its six remaining games at home, where it has won eight straight. The Comets' final game is Sept. 12 against Sacramento.

The Comets played without key reserves Sancho Lyttle and Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, who are injured. Rebekkah Brunson, who had knee surgery on Aug. 6, missed her second straight game for Sacramento.