HOUSTON (AP) Tangela Smith scored 17 points as the Sacramento Monarchs handed the Houston Comets their first home loss in 13 games with a 61-59 victory Saturday.

It was a key loss for the Comets, who fell a half-game behind the Los Angeles Sparks in the race for the top seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage throughout the WNBA playoffs.

Houston (23-8) has one game remaining, while Los Angeles (23-7) has two left. The Comets own the tiebreaker over the Sparks.

The Monarchs (13-17), already eliminated from postseason consideration, have won 10 of 12 and three straight on the road.

Sheryl Swoopes scored 32 points, 18 in the first half, to lead the Comets. Swoopes was 11-of-25 from the floor.

"I don't think we were as aggressive as we needed to be," she said. "I think we let Sacramento control too much of the game, but we turned it on and we had a pretty good shot at the end."

Sacramento led by as many as 14 points, but a late surge by the Comets fell just short as Tiffani Johnson missed a 15-foot jump shot with two seconds remaining.

"We had a big lead, but this was a great day that came down to the end," Smith said. "We fought hard, both teams were really aggressive out there, but I think we made the better decisions in the end."

Michelle Snow got the rebound with a second left, but missed a layup as time ran out.

"It was definitely a physical game," Swoopes said. "I don't think we expected it to be that physical, but you win some and you lose some."

Houston's Tina Thompson missed her second straight game with a bruised right hip.

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