Baranova Is the Difference

Elena Baranova had 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Utah Starzz to a 68-64 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs at Salt Lake City on Monday.

The game was played before 7,005 at the Delta Center.

Baranova, who moved from power forward to small forward, had 15 points in the first half as the Starzz (4-8) took a 37-36 halftime lead.

Reserve guard Franthea Price led the Monarchs (3-8) with 14 points in 17 minutes. Forward Latasha Byears added 13 points and Tangela Smith had 11.

Houston 78, Cleveland 64--Sheryl Swoopes and Cynthia Cooper each scored 18 points for the visiting Comets (10-1), which scored the game’s first 11 points and by as many as 24 in the first half before 8,928.

The Rockers (5-5) were led by Janice Braxton and Merlakia Jones with 13 points each.

New York 59, Detroit 56--Teresa Weatherspoon had 12 points, including two free throws with 15 seconds left, as the Liberty (8-5) remained undefeated at home before 11,276.