ORLANDO, Fla. — Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored all of her 19 points in the second half, and had 10 rebounds as the Orlando Miracle beat the Detroit Shock 73-67 Sunday in a matchup of the league's two worst teams.
Shannon Johnson also scored 19 points as Orlando (5-10) snapped a four-game losing skid. Detroit (4-11) was led by Edwina Brown's 15 points.
With 55.5 seconds remaining, McWilliams-Franklin's two free throws broke a tie at 64. She was perfect in nine tries from the foul line.
On the Shock's ensuing possession, McWilliams-Franklin followed with one of her five blocked shots. That lead to Nykesha Sales' 3-pointer from the left wing, giving Orlando a five-point lead with 35.8 seconds to play.
ROCKERS 63, COMETS 53: At Houston, Helen Darling scored a career-high 18 points as the Cleveland Rockers beat Houston 63-53 on Sunday to end the Comets' seven-game home winning streak.
Darling was 6-of-8 from the floor, including a 3-for-4 performance from 3-point range, to help Cleveland improve to 12-5.
Tina Thompson had 19 points for Houston (12-3), and Janeth Arcain added 11 points.
Late in the game, with Houston trailing 60-51, Houston coach Van Chancellor was ejected for the first time in his career.