Ref Collapses in Comet Loss
Natalie Williams scored a career-high 25 points as the Utah Starzz eliminated the Houston Comets from the WNBA playoffs with a 75-72 victory Tuesday night in a game delayed when referee Bill Stokes collapsed early in the second half at Houston.
Play was stopped for 25 minutes when Stokes collapsed near the scorer’s table during a timeout with 15:33 left in the game. Stokes was treated immediately by medical officials from both teams.
He was taken to a Southwest Memorial Hospital where team officials said he was listed in critical but stable condition. WNBA President Val Ackerman left the game and joined Stokes at the hospital.
“At that time he was stable and breathing on his own,” Comet Coach Van Chancellor said. “Sure, I think the league is going to get criticized [for resuming the game], but I didn’t see any other solution. It was just a tough loss any way you slice it.”
The Comets led, 43-40, when Stokes collapsed. When play resumed with only two referees, the Starzz went on an 19-10 run and never trailed again.
The Starzz will play for the Western Conference championship against the defending WNBA champion Sparks.
Sheryl Swoopes, who led Houston with 28 points, missed a long three-point attempt at the buzzer.
“It was pretty difficult,” Swoopes said. “The hardest part is staying focused and getting back out there and getting in the game but we can’t make excuses, because Utah kept their concentration and composure. It could have easily been any one of us.”
Meanwhile, Swoopes beat out the Sparks’ Lisa Leslie for selection as the WNBA’s most valuable player, winning the award for the second time in three years.
Swoopes, on Sunday, also won the league’s award for best defensive player.
Indiana Fever rookie Tamika Catchings was third in the voting, conducted by 60 members of the media.
New York 75, Indiana 60--Vickie Johnson scored 19 points to lead the Liberty into the Eastern Conference finals before 12,471 at New York.
The Liberty will face the Washington Mystics at the MCI Center on Thursday in the best-of-three series.
Nikki McCray led Indiana with 14 points. Rookie of the year Catchings, who fell hard on her right hand and left the game for X-rays in the first half, had 12 points on four-for-12 shooting.
