Associated Press
HOUSTON -- Rita Williams scored a season-high 15 points to lead the Houston Comets to a 63-51 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night in the final game of the regular WNBA season.
The loss ended the season for the Lynx, who didn't qualify for the playoffs.
Williams, acquired by the Comets (24-8) in a trade with Indiana this season, was 5-for-6 from the field and 3-of-6 from the free-throw line.
"I just wanted to come out and play," Williams said. "I talked to Coach (Van) Chancellor today and he said he wanted all of us to get out on the floor."
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Houston will face Utah in the first round of the playoffs after finishing a game behind Los Angeles for the Western Division title and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
Minnesota, after shooting 28 percent from the floor in the first half, battled back in the final 20 minutes to cut the Comets lead to nine. But Williams hit a three-pointer and added a free throw in the last 6:47 to help seal the victory.
Tamara Moore scored 11 points for Minnesota, which lost its last three games to finish the regular season a franchise-worst 10-22. Katie Smith, Minnesota's leading scorer on the season, was 3-of-10 from the field and scored nine points.
"We were just cold for most of the game and Houston continually got good, open looks and made the most of it," Smith said.
Rebecca Lobo and Sheryl Swoopes each scored nine points for the Comets. Lobo was 4-of-6 from the field and hit a 3-pointer in the first half.
Both teams were without their second-leading scorers. Minnesota's Svetlana Abrosimova sat out her third game in a row with a lower back sprain, and Houston's Tina Thompson missed her third consecutive game because of a bruised hip.
MINNESOTA (51)
Smith 3-10 2-2 9, T.Williams 2-5 1-2 5, Van Gorp 1-4 0-0 2, Moore 4-11 1-2 11, Harrower 2-5 0-0 5, Schweitzer 1-4 0-0 3, Burse 4-8 1-2 9, Pride 3-7 1-2 7, Gortman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-54 6-10 51.
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HOUSTON (63)
Swoopes 4-12 0-0 9, Jackson 1-4 0-2 2, Johnson 2-3 1-1 5, Henning 0-2 0-0 0, Arcain 4-10 0-0 9, R.Williams 5-6 3-6 15, Snow 3-5 2-2 8, Lobo 4-6 0-0 9, Gibson 0-3 0-0 0, Daley 0-1 6-8 6. Totals 23-52 12-19 63.
Minnesota 22 29 -- 51
; Houston 33 30 -- 63
; 3-Point Goals--Minnesota 5-21 (Moore 2-6, Schweitzer 1-2, Harrower 1-4, Smith 1-7, T.Williams 0-1, Pride 0-1), Houston 5-9 (R.Williams 2-3, Arcain 1-1, Swoopes 1-2, Lobo 1-2, Gibson 0-1). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Minnesota 38 (T.Williams 8), Houston 36 (Snow 8). Assists--Minnesota 13 (Smith 4), Houston 16 (Swoopes, Henning 4). Total fouls--Minnesota 20, Houston 15. Flagrant fouls--Snow. A--11,618.
