Azzi Returns but Utah Loses

Jennifer Azzi played in her first regular-season game for Utah after suffering a broken hand during an exhibition game, but the Starzz lost to the Detroit Shock, 73-69, Friday night before 7,649 at Salt Lake City.

Edwina Brown made four free throws in the final 14 seconds for the Shock. Astou Ndiaye-Diatta led the Shock with 18 points, and Oksana Zakauluzhnaya added 15 on six-for-nine shooting.

“I can’t stand to lose, so that’s the hard part,” Azzi said. “But it felt good to be out on the court.”

Azzi kept the Starzz in the game, although she was called for a technical with 4:54 to play and missed a shot with 6.5 seconds left. She finished with four points, five assists, two steals and three turnovers.

Houston 86, Charlotte 71--Sheryl Swoopes scored 30 points as the champion Comets beat the Sting before 12,196 at Houston.

Sacramento 63, Portland 60--Ruthie Bolton-Holifield scored 28 points and made key free throws down the stretch to lead the Monarchs before 7,703 at Portland.

New York 76, Minnesota 70--Tari Phillips had 26 points and 12 rebounds as the Liberty beat the Lynx before 7,467 at Minneapolis.

Miami 49, Cleveland 46--Sharon Manning scored 13 points and Marlies Askamp had eight rebounds as the Sol beat the Rockers before 7,153 at Miami.

Notes

Houston Comet backup center Elen Chakirova has decided to leave the team and return to her native Russia. Chakirova, the team’s top pick in the 2000 draft, told team officials she missed family and friends. She was averaging 4.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 14 games.