With their 64-55 loss to the Houston Comets, the San Antonio Silver Stars are virtually out of the playoff picture. With eight games remaining on their schedule, San Antonio is 5 1/2 games out of the fourth and final playoff spot.
When the season began, the transplanted Silver Stars had high expectations. They were looking to improve on their Western Conference Finals appearance of last season as the Utah Starzz. But as the season wore on, San Antonio was turnover-plagued and couldn't seem to put together two good halves of basketball.
On Saturday July 26, head coach Candi Harvey and assistant Tammi Reiss were let go. Under interim head coach Shell Dailey, the Silver Stars found new life. They rattled off three consecutive victories in a week, including defeating the Los Angeles Sparks on their home floor.
But it's a case of too little, too late. The Silver Stars can now just play out the rest of the season for pride and for fun.
Saturday night, the Silver Stars had an opportunity to make it four in a row as they headed into Compaq Center for the second game against Houston in as many nights.
The Comets dominate the first half, but San Antonio cut the lead to only five on an Adrienne Goodson jumper with 7:37 remaining in the game. Houston responded with a 10-4 run to bring the score to 58-47 with three minutes left in the contest.
Sheryl Swoopes, who only shot 6-for-20 on Friday night at SBC Center, had 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting in the victory. Janet Arcain scored 16 for the Comets and Tina Thompson kicked in 14.
Goodson tallied 13 points on the night for the Silver Stars. Center Margo Dydek scored 11 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in the loss. Silver Stars' leading scorer Marie Ferdinand was held to 2-for-13 shooting from the field.
The Silver Stars next game is Tuesday night in New York against the Liberty at 6:30p.m. Eastern time.
