By SARA ANDERSON
With a number of personnel changes and the addition of 7-feet-2 center Margo Dydek the Utah Starzz were looking forward to a bright 1998 season.
Now, as the 5-12 Starzz enter into the second half of the season, they realize they still have a lot to learn.
“It’s frustrating,” Dydek said. Dydek, who is averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.41 blocks per game, does not understand why her team is struggling. “I’m not happy. We’ve worked a lot.”
Although the Starzz have lost many close games, they are not giving up.
“We still have more games and anything can happen,” Dydek said.
“It is a better team than last year,” Utah coach Denise Taylor said. “We have more talent, we’ve got height and we are not losing by 20 points like we did last season. We’ve been in games and we have had opportunity to win games.”
On Sunday the Starzz took advantage of their game against one of the league’s weakest teams, beating the Washington Mystics 99-88 at the MCI Center.
Utah, who is in the middle of a 10-day road trip, dominated the first half going on a 19-0 run. The Starzz lead 47-25 at half.
Although Washington outscored Utah 63-52 in the second half, the Starzz were able to hold on and get a win.
The Starzz, who shot 56 percent from the floor, were lead by 6-2 forward Wendy Palmer. Palmer had 24 points and guard Kim Williams finished with 19.
The 2-14 Mystics were lead by Nikki McCray, who had a game-high 26 points.
The win breaks Utah’s four-game losing streak.
Utah suffered a big loss at the end of the first half when leading scorer Elena Baranova sprained her ankle. Baranova, who has been fighting Achilles tendinitis, is listed as day-to-day.
The Starzz were not as fortunate in their Friday night loss against the Detroit Shock, 74-67.
Utah, trying to avenge their 74-67 lost to the Shock, July 13, opened the game hitting 7-for-7 to take a 14-6 lead. Dydek scored 11 points and had six blocks in the first half to help the Starzz take a 37-33 half time lead.
But, just as they did in their previous meeting, Dydek and the Starzz cooled off and Detroit took control. The Shock outscored Utah 46-30 in the second half and won the game.
Dydek finished the night with 15 points and set a new WNBA record with eight blocked shots.
Utah acquired former Los Angeles Spark’s guard Erin Alexander to fill the spot of Tammi Reiss. Reiss, who was placed on the injured reserve list on July 16 for a sprained ankle, is listed as day-to-day.
The Starzz will play the Charlotte Sting on Wednesday and then travel to Cleveland to face the Rockers on Saturday. The Starzz next home game will be Monday against the Phoenix Mercury.
