PORTLAND, Ore., (AP) — With a pick and a layup, the Utah Starzz showed off their new identity. Marie Ferdinand scored four of her 13 points in the final minute as the Utah Starzz rallied to beat the Portland Fire 65-63 Sunday night.
Ferdinand hit a jumper with 31.8 seconds left and added a layup with 4 seconds remaining for the Starzz. Natalie Williams, who set the screen on the game-winner, had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Margo Dydek added 14 points and nine rebounds for Utah (7-8).
The Starzz won their second straight game since coach Candi Harvey took over for Fred Williams.
“The best thing that Candi brings is fire and intensity,” Natalie Williams said. “We really, really needed that change of spirit. All of us have changed — there’s a sense of urgency now.”
Jackie Stiles scored 18 points for the Fire (9-7). Sylvia Crawley added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Portland, which led most of the game.
“We just came out and played so hard, so it hurts to lose a game like this,” Crawley said. “We have to learn how to get a lead and keep a lead.”
Ferdinand hit a jumper to give Utah a 63-61 advantage, just its second lead of the game.
After a timeout, Sophia Witherspoon shot an airball for Portland. Tully Bevilaqua grabbed the miss and scored on a putback, tying the game at 63 with 15.6 seconds left.
But Williams set a screen that floored Stacey Thomas, and Ferdinand drove the lane for an easy layup that sealed the win for Utah. The Utah guard pumped her fist as her teammates huddled around her in celebration.
“It’s a wide-open layup when somebody runs into her,” Ferdinand said with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to play with Natalie.”
Crawley had 14 points and eight rebounds in the first half for the Fire, who were up by 14 points in the first half, but struggled against Utah’s zone defense in the second.
“Once we got within five points, we knew we could win this game,” Williams said. “If we play well, we can beat anyone in this league.”