WNBA: Sacramento 55, Houston 45

SACRAMENTO, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Kara Lawson and Yolanda Griffith combined for 23 points Sunday as the Sacramento Monarchs beat the Houston Comets, 55-45.

Lawson had 13 points off the bench as the Monarchs, who led by 18 points at halftime, improved to a solid 20-7 with their seventh straight win.

They lead the Comets by five games in the Western Conference.

Houston, which got 10 points each from Sheryl Swoopes and Janeth Arcain, dropped to 15-12 and is 5-5 in its last 10 games.