The Utah Starzz were sailing along, despite it being the New York Liberty's home opener in Madison Square Garden Sunday afternoon.
Just like they'd done last Monday in the Delta Center, the Starzz were all over the Liberty, leading 21-10 on six points from Fran Harris and seven from 7-foot-2 Margo Dydek.But, with another game Monday night at 3-1 Cleveland (live on ESPN-TV, 5:30 MDT), Starzz coach Denise Taylor tried to rest her starters, putting in five new players. Normally, the bench, which includes Wendy Palmer and Chantel Tremitiere, who started in the WNBA all last summer, is highly competent.
For some reason on Sunday, the change seemed to kill Utah's momentum.
"We lost our rhythm at the same time the Liberty picked it up," said Utah's Elena Baranova.
It was close the rest of the way, New York made the plays at the end, and the Liberty beat the Starzz 68-64.
Utah fell to 2-3, 0-2 on this three-game road trip, and New York climbed to 2-4 after a 10-day season-opening road trip.
Utah's last lead was 59-58 with 3:24 left. It would have been 60-58, but Baranova missed one of two free throws. Making three of four free throws, the Liberty hit 60 first, and Utah's Kim Williams missed two free throws, the first with an air ball, after her shot had been blocked by Rebecca Lobo. New York's 11-0 run put the Liberty up 68-59 with :27 left. Tammi Reiss made a three, and LaTonya Johnson a layup, but the Starzz ran out of time.
"If we had shot our free throws better, the statistics would have been the same," said Baranova, "so those four points were important."
"I thought free throws were the difference," said Utah coach Taylor. "If we would have made our free throws, we would have won the game. New York stepped up, played hard and made some tough shots at the end. With 3:29 (left), we were up two. We missed four free throws. We also missed a layup during that stretch. You make your free throws, you make your layups, it probably would have been a different game."
"They made a couple of free throws down the stretch," observed Starzz guard Dena Head, whose 3-pointer was Utah's first basket. "Vickie Johnson made a big three (at the end). Overall, I don't think our team has anything to hang their heads about," Head said. "We definitely played a good basketball game and, unfortunately, came out on the short end."
It was the second straight opening-night party for the Starzz, who gave the expansion Washington Mystics their first win in their home debut before more than 20,000 fans Friday. Sunday matinee in New York drew 15,754. No matter, said Taylor. "We have played in front of 20,000, so we're used to that now," she said.
It was loud, said Baranova. "It's like a plane is departing." But it was no excuse, she said. "For me, it actually does not matter." It was Baranova's first 1998 game without a double-double. She scored nine with six rebounds.
Dydek had a career-high 14 points but only three rebounds and two blocks as fouls cut her playing time and effectiveness. Reiss, of Middletown, N.Y., said she had about 1,500 fans in the audience. She scored nine. Palmer added eight. For New York, Hampton had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and Johnson 17 points, five rebounds. Lobo had 10 and six.
Utah is 2-14 all-time in road games and 0-2 at Cleveland, where it fell 74-63 and 95-68 last year.
The Rockers are 3-1, 2-0 at home. They're led by Janice Braxton's 16.3 points a game.
The Rockers use eight players regularly, including rugged 6-3 Eva Nemcova (10.5) and 6-6 Isabelle Fijalkowski. Former Starzz player Raegan Scott of Orem, 6-3, has appeared in two games.
The Starzz return home Tuesday for a one-game homestand with Charlotte in the Delta Center on Thursday. They're off to Phoenix Friday.