SPARKS WIN IN COACH'S PREMIERE : SPARKS 77, HOUSTON 52.

Byline: Kristen Davis Daily News Staff Writer

The Sparks welcomed Julie Rousseau to the head coaching ranks with a 77-52 victory over Houston on Wednesday night, before 7,240 at the Forum, and in the process broke their two-game losing streak.

``Coach Rousseau did a great job of keeping us motivated and helping us channel our emotion into the game,'' Lisa Leslie said.

The Sparks started slowly, perhaps feeling the effects of Linda Sharp's firing earlier in the day. Houston led 12-6 after four minutes, but the Sparks responded with a game-breaking 25-2 surge and led 39-18 at halftime. Houston's 18 points tied the WNBA's lowest first-half output.

``They came out very emotional, and did everything that you are supposed to do to win,'' Comets coach Van Chancellor said.

Zheng Haixia led the Sparks with 15 points, but defense was the key. The Sparks held Houston's Cynthia Cooper, a former USC star who's third in the WNBA in scoring, to four points in the first period.

``The defensive intensity was critical,'' said Rousseau, whose team improved to 5-7 with the victory. ``We wanted to make a statement. . . If we keep this same intensity, we're going to be very strong.''

Notes: The WNBA fined Phoenix's Nancy Lieberman-Cline $500 Wednesday for holding guard Jamila Wideman by the neck as time expired in the first half of the Sparks 57-56 loss on Sunday at the Forum.

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PHOTO Sparks forward Heidi Burge applies pressure on the Comets' Kim Perrot.

Associated Press