Comets Conquer Rome: Houston's Fourth Quarter Surge Downs Centurions 113-102
Jensen and Thorne Lead Houston's Late Charge Past Rome
ROME – The Houston Comets staged a dynamic fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Rome Centurions 113-102 in a crucial Pro League matchup.
The game, which saw multiple momentum swings, ultimately tilted in Houston’s favor as they found their offensive rhythm and stifled the Centurions’ attack in the game’s decisive final period.
Rome came out strong, with Maya Dubois leading the charge. Dubois poured in 23 points, including a pair of crucial second-quarter field goals that kept the Centurions in contention. Owen Harper was a force on the boards and facilitated the offense, notching a near triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. However, their efforts weren’t enough to overcome Houston’s late surge.
The Comets, paced by a stellar 21-point, 7-rebound, and 5-assist performance from Eva Jensen, began to chip away at Rome’s lead in the third quarter. Marcus Thorne provided crucial support with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, and his defensive presence, highlighted by 3 blocks, disrupted Rome’s scoring opportunities.
The turning point appeared to be a key steal by Eva Jensen midway through the fourth quarter, which ignited a fast break and a string of points for Houston. “We just kept executing our game plan,” said Comets guard Lila Sharma, who added 9 points and 4 assists. “Defense led to offense, and we found our shooters.”
Rome Head Coach Isabella Rossi lamented the team’s late-game execution. “We had them on the ropes, but we let it slip away. Credit to Houston, they made the big plays when it mattered most.”
Key Notes:
- Houston shot an efficient 76.5% from the free-throw line, converting 13 of 17 attempts.
- Rome struggled at the charity stripe, making only 15 of 28 free throws (53.6%).
- The Comets held a slight advantage in turnovers, with 9 to Rome’s 13.
- Owen Harper led all players with 11 rebounds for the Centurions.