Swoopes hits career high, but Storm win

Lauren Jackson scored 27 points and led the Seattle Storm past Sheryl Swoopes and the Houston Comets 71-68 on Tuesday night in Seattle.

The MVP contenders, who entered tied for the WNBA lead at 18 points per game, backed their billing. Swoopes had a career-high 34 points on 15-for-24 shooting. Her previous high of 33 was accomplished twice, most recently on June 18, 2004, against Seattle.

Iziane Castro Marques had 11 points, and Sue Bird added 10 for Seattle. Janell Burse and rookie Tanisha Wright both scored eight points.

Michelle Snow scored 13 points and Janeth Arcain had 11 but no other Comets player managed more than four. Tina Thompson had just two points, and newly acquired Dawn Staley went scoreless.

Seattle is a half-game ahead of Houston in the race for second place and home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Sun 64, Sparks 51: At Uncasville, Conn., Katie Douglas scored a season-high 22 points, and Nykesha Sales added 16 to lead Connecticut over Los Angeles. Douglas hit a career-high 12 free throws in a physical game marked by 42 fouls and technicals on Sparks coach Henry Bibby and center Lisa Leslie.

Shock 71, Sting 64: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Katie Smith scored 21 points, and Deanna Nolan added 17 to lead Detroit over Charlotte.

Lynx 76, Silver Stars 72: At Minneapolis, Stacey Lovelace scored a career-high 17 points, and Vanessa Hayden scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Minnesota over San Antonio.