New York ? Fighting for their playoff lives, the New York Liberty hardly looked like a team playing a third game in as many days.

Vickie Johnson scored 18 points, and New York held Houston scoreless over the final 2:10 for a 67-64 victory over the Comets Monday night.

“Our backs were against the wall and we came out very aggressive,” Johnson said. “The main thing we wanted to do is step up on our individual defense, help out where needed and stay aggressive.”

The Liberty, who were the first team in WNBA history to play three games in three days, won for the sixth time in nine games. They broke a fifth-place tie with Indiana and pulled within a half-game of the fourth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with three games left.

“We are not out of the woods yet, but we still have a chance,” Liberty coach Richie Adubato said. “We still have to keep winning games.”

The Comets, who entered with victories in nine of 11, slipped 11/2 games behind the defending champion Los Angeles Sparks for first place in the West. Houston (19-11) has four games to go. Sheryl Swoopes had 22 points for the Comets.