Sparks 87, Starzz 77LOS ANGELES -- It wasn't quite the same old story for the Utah Starzz. But then again, it was.
They were in it until there was 8:10 left, tied at 58. And then Los Angeles dashed off a 13-0 run fueled by Gordana Grubin's back-to-back three-pointers and a three-point play from Mwadi Mabika. In just two minutes, the Sparks were in command.
Los Angeles rode 24 points, 10 rebounds and six steals from Lisa Leslie to its fifth straight win Friday night in the Great Western Forum, 87-77 over Utah.
Starzz forward Elena Baranova said in a radio interview that they were told by coach Fred Williams to play a zone late in the game to try to contain Leslie. He thought she was more dangerous inside with her scoring, rebounding and assists than a long-shooter would be. "It's really difficult to play against Leslie," Baranova said.
Grubin finished with 16 points, making four of six 3-point attempts, 4-for-5 in the second half, when she scored 12. Grubin hurt Utah in the Starzz last game at the Forum, making nine free throws and 18 points.
While the M.O. was the same as in all those other Starzz losses over the last few weeks -- falling victim to a double-digit run by the other team -- Utah (7-14) put up a surprising fight against the Sparks, who've moved into second place in the WNBA's Western Division at 15-6.
The Starzz had only eight players on the court, and they were minus their best one, Natalie Williams, her top backup (Wendy Palmer) and Olympia Scott-Richardson, who was effective playing at Phoenix Tuesday in her first extended time since coming off the maternity list.
Palmer and Scott-Richardson were traded Thursday night to Detroit, and the players Utah got in exchange, Korie Hlede and Cindy Brown, don't join the Starzz until tonight's game in the Delta Center at 7 p.m. against Sacramento (13-8). The Monarchs spent Friday in the Delta Center watching Rocky Mountain Revue games.
Natalie Williams watched the game in street clothes, out with plantar fasciitis. Dr. Lyle Mason, Starzz orthopedist, said she can play when it no longer hurts. He added that the slight tear Williams felt in her left arch could actually be good because it relieves some of the tension on the inflamed area.
Without three inside-type players, 7-foot-2 Margo Dydek and the 6-5 Baranova had to try and cover the speedy 6-5 Leslie and her twin, DeLisha Milton (17 points, six rebounds), and their foul trouble mounted. Baranova got her fourth and fifth at 8:38 and 8:29 of the second half, just as Leslie re-entered the game after a long rest with her own foul trouble.
Utah was up 56-55, but Leslie immediately got a 3-point play out of Baranova's fifth foul. Baranova came back with a baseline reverse to tie at 58, but a Ukari Figgs lay-in at 8:00 made it 60-58 and started the Sparks' 13-0 spurt.
The Sparks tried to gain control in the first half, going up 30-22, but a Krystyna Lara 12-footer cut it to 32-29. Her 3-pointer with 1:04 left tied it at 36, and her 3-point bank shot to beat the shot clock on a skip pass from Dalma Ivanyi put Utah up 39-36. A Leslie free throw made it 39-37. Utah led by six, 42-38, early in the second half on a floating banker from Adrienne Goodson, but La'Keshia Freet's long shot was followed by back-to-back threes from Grubin for a 46-44 Sparks lead, and Utah had to try to catch up from there. It did a couple times but ran out of gas.
It was an unfulfilling ending for a strong effort by Starzz like Dydek (19 points, 11 rebounds, five blocked shots), Adrienne Goodson (18 points, five rebounds, three assists), Krystyna Lara (WNBA career-high 17 points) and Baranova (13 points, 11 rebounds).
Baranova said the mood in the dressing room later was one of congratulations for everyone rather than despair over another loss.
STARZZ NOTZZ: Utah's half of Thursday's trade had trouble getting to Salt Lake City. Korie Hlede and Cindy Brown got separated, Hlede making a flight that Brown missed. Hlede got in after 9 p.m., and Brown was expected at 1 a.m. Dr. Lyle Mason said he was given three different time scenarios during the day for meeting the players to give them physicals.