Cleveland Survives Close One

Janice Braxton’s free throw with less than a second left in the game Thursday gave the visiting Cleveland Rockers a 76-75 victory over the Houston Comets and continued their playoff chase before 9,631.

Braxton, fouled by Tina Thompson, missed the first shot before sinking the winner for the Rockers (14-12). The Comets are 18-9.

Michelle Edwards led Cleveland with 15 points.

Cynthia Cooper was held to 15 points, but had nine assists. Kim Perrot had 18 points.

Charlotte 66, Utah 56--Vicky Bullett and Andrea Stinson each scored 14 points as the Sting (14-12) kept its playoff hopes alive before 8,148 at Salt Lake City. Utah fell to 7-20.

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Cooper, the leading scorer in the WNBA, and Teresa Edwards, a member of four Olympic teams, were among 51 players invited to tryouts Sept. 1-4 for the U.S. national women’s team in Colorado Springs. Ten members of the 1996 Olympic gold medal team were invited including Edwards, Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes.