Originally published Friday, July 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM

WNBA | Nancy Lieberman plays for Detroit at age 50

The 50-year-old Lieberman had two assists, including a no-look pass in the closing minutes of the Detroit Shock's 79-61 loss to the Houston Comets on Thursday night.

By The Associated Press

PREV of NEXT

Nancy Lieberman, 50, played Thursday.

HOUSTON — Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman showed she still had one nifty pass left in her.

The 50-year-old Lieberman had two assists, including a no-look pass in the closing minutes of the Detroit Shock's 79-61 loss to the Houston Comets on Thursday night.

Lieberman made a one-time only appearance in the Shock's first game since Tuesday night's bench-clearing melee with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Five Shock players were suspended and Cheryl Ford suffered a season-ending injury, prompting coach Bill Laimbeer to offer Lieberman a seven-day contract.

"I had a great time," said Lieberman, who missed her only shot, a three-pointer in the fourth quarter. "It was very historic to be able to do that."

Lieberman played nine minutes, seven in the fourth quarter, when the game's outcome was decided. The Shock players tried to get her in a position to score every time down the floor at the end, but Lieberman could only get off one shot.

With 1:16 left, she zipped a no-look pass to Olayinka Sanni in the lane and Sanni put it in, prompting some of the loudest applause of the night from the crowd of 7,261.

Other games

At Sun 87, Sparks 61

Lindsay Whalen scored 13 of her 22 points in the third quarter and Connecticut beat the short-handed Los Angeles Sparks.

The Sparks were without Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and DeLisha Milton-Jones, who were all suspended for one game by the WNBA for their involvement in Tuesday's altercation with the Detroit Shock. The three Olympians combined to average 48 points and 24 rebounds.

At Monarchs 83, Mercury 74