This is easily the best Utah Starzz team since the WNBA began six seasons ago.
They would have little in the way of proof of that, however, if the Starzz couldn't win their regular-season finale Monday in the Delta Center. Lose, and they'd be the same 19-13 they were last year. Then, it was a team record. A year later, it would have been a disappointment.
That appeared to be happening eight minutes into the second half as the Sacramento Monarchs — the team that beat Utah 2-0 in the 2001 playoffs — took a nine-point lead.
The Starzz, though, didn't fritter this one away, as they had four of the five previous games. "I'm proud of our guts tonight," said coach Candi Harvey after Utah's 81-79 comeback win in a peculiar game gave the Starzz a franchise-best 20-12 for 2002.
"It hasn't been easy," said Harvey. "Any time you're trying to do something special, it's difficult."
For Starzz center Margo Dydek, whose rebound of a missed free throw turned into an 80-78 lead when she made two free throws, getting the 20th win was OK. "It's good we are still improving," she said.
"But, for me, most important is not how many wins . . . it's really important to have (the win) to bring our confidence back for the playoffs."
Utah will host Los Angeles or Houston, whichever is second in the Western Conference, either Thursday at 8 p.m. or Friday at 7. The rest of the best-of-three series would be on the road for Utah.
Substitute guard Semeka Randall kicked off two Starzz rallies, helping cut a 53-44 deficit to 53-50 with an assist to Dydek followed by a rebound, and by scoring six points, taking a charge, making an assist and getting two rebounds to help trim an eight-point Monarch lead to 70-68. "We don't win this game without Randall," Harvey declared.
If the 10,985 in attendance thought the game was off-the-wall up to that point — with a six-minute delay for pie filling spilled on the court during a timeout by the mascot, three delays over shot-clock malfunction, Monarch coach Maura McHugh sticking her finger down her throat after a charging call against Tangela Smith and Monarch Yolanda Griffith making faces at Harvey and then punching Dydek in the face during a struggle for possession — well, they were really in for a treat in the final two minutes.
First, the Starzz finally got within a point as Ferdinand picked Smith's pocket and was fouled by Smith on the steal to make it 72-71. Ferdinand then split the defense for a layin and a 74-73 disadvantage. The Monarchs missed four of their last eight free throws; Utah missed four of its last 11.
When Goodson rebounded her own missed layup over Griffith and put it back, the game was tied at 78, but she missed the free throw. Dydek rebounded and was fouled with :11.4 left, making both free throws for Utah's first lead since 29-28. Lady Grooms then drove into Dydek, Dydek fell and Natalie Williams swiped the ball under the Sacramento basket. Ruthie Bolton fouled Williams on the steal, but Dydek got a technical foul. While lying on her back, Dydek's self-protective push upward with both feet was interpreted as a kick as a Monarch player was about to fall on her.
Griffith made the technical, Williams made one, and Ticha Penicheiro missed a game-tying layup for Sacramento as time ran out.
As the teams mingled on the court after the game, Griffith found Dydek and called Utah's center a dirty player. Dydek said Griffith's still mad that Poland beat her team by 30 points in European competition. "I like her as a person," Dydek said.
Both teams were dissatisfied with officiating that called three technicals, 27 fouls on the Monarchs, 19 on Utah and still had little control. Said McHugh of Griffith, "I think she was getting smashed in the neck over and over again. I just felt like it was really a physical game, and it just really got out of hand. There was just too much elbow-throwing and no calls. It's just ridiculous. It's ruining the game."
Penicheiro added, "I think the referees tried to handle things, but sometimes it can still get out of control."
Harvey was busy making plans to send the league video of Griffith's punch four minutes into the second half. It drew a technical but no flagrant call. Dydek's been suspended twice for three flagrant fouls that appeared less intentional. Harvey said Dydek responded well, ignoring officials and playing better after being hit. Dydek said it was no factor. Thirteen of her 19 points came in the second half, nine after the punch.
Smith finished with 23 points, Griffith 22. Goodson had 10 of her 17 in the second half. Ferdinand (15), Williams (11) and Randall (10) hit double figures.
E-MAIL: lham@desnews.com