SACRAMENTO, CALIF. ? Nicole Powell scored 18 points, including two three-pointers in the final 1:38, and the Sacramento Monarchs remained unbeaten at home with a 74-68 victory over the Houston Comets on Monday night.

Yolanda Griffith added 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocked shots for Sacramento, which improved its franchise-best start to 7-2. The Monarchs are 4-0 in Arco Arena.

Sheryl Swoopes had 20 points and four assists and made 10 of 11 free throws for the cold-shooting Comets, who lost their third straight game.

There were nine ties in the second half, so the Monarchs had to work to preserve their perfect home record. Sacramento shot 53.7 percent.

Edwige Lawson’s three-pointer with 7:36 remaining gave Houston a 56-55 lead, but Powell hit two straight three-pointers for Sacramento. Then the former Stanford star came up big again.

Kristen Rasmussen scored with 1:52 left to put Houston ahead 66-63, then Powell hit a tying three on the other end. Powell, who had a rough rookie year with Charlotte, is shining in coach John Whisenant’s freelancing system.

The Western Conference-leading Monarchs had their three-game winning streak snapped Saturday in an 81-74 loss at Los Angeles, but bounced back with a hard-fought victory.

Sacramento beat Houston for the fifth time in their last six meetings.

Janeth Arcain was whistled for a technical with 13 seconds left when she argued a foul after knocking down Griffith.