Baranova Barrage Stuns N.Y.

WNBA

The WNBA had its biggest upset of the season Tuesday night as the Utah Starzz, led by a league-record seven 3-pointers from Russian center Elena Baranova, defeated the New York Liberty 78-71.

It was the first home loss of the season for the Liberty, whose 12-3 overall record remains the best in the league. New York began the night 6-0 at Madison Square Garden.

Utah, which improved to 4-11 but still has the league’s worst record, hung close all game and then pulled off the upset by scoring the game’s final 10 points.

A big reason why was Baranova, who blocked three consecutive shots by Rebecca Lobo in the final minute and then pressured New York’s marquee player into two more misses in the final 30 seconds.

Baranova’s seven 3-pointers broke the WNBA record of six held by two players. She finished with 23 points, six rebounds and five blocks and shot 7 for 9 from behind the arc. The 6-foot-5 center, who speaks no English, entered the game with just eight 3-pointers in Utah’s first 14 games.

“I never shoot 3-pointers,” said the 25-year-old Baranova, who was the second-leading scorer and top rebounder during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where she averaged 20.3 points and 13.1 rebounds.

“Tonight, my shots just went in. I shoot once, got it. I shoot twice, got it. I shoot three, got it,” Baranova said. “That’s when coach said, ‘Well, you can shoot it.”’

Sophia Witherspoon led New York with 16 points.

Starzz 78, Liberty 71

At New York

Utah (78) - Palmer 4-11 8-10 16, Hardmon 3-5 4-6 10, Baranova 8-15 0-0 23, Williams 1-8 6-6 8, Reiss 4-11 0-0 9, Hicks 3-6 0-0 6, Head 3-3 0-0 6. Totals 26-59 18-22 78.

New York (71) - Lobo 6-15 1-2 14, Johnson 4-10 0-0 8, Hampton 3-4 3-4 9, Weatherspoon 3-9 1-2 7, Witherspoon 4-14 6-7 16, Wicks 3-5 2-3 8, Ford 1-3 1-1 3, Blades 0-0 0-0 0, Trice 2-4 2-2 6. Totals 26-64 16-21 71.

Halftime-New York 32, Utah 27. 3-Point goals-Utah 8-13, (Baranova 7-9, Reiss 1-3, Williams 0-1), New York 3-14, (Witherspoon 2-5, Lobo 1-3, Johnson 0-1, Trice 0-1, Weatherspoon 0-4). Fouled out-Hampton. Rebounds-Utah 39 (Palmer 10), New York 41 (Hampton 7). Assists-Utah 17 (Williams, Reiss 4), New York 21 (Weatherspoon 6). Total fouls- Utah 18, New York 19. Technical-Baranova. A-9,011.

Comets 77, Mercury 69

At Phoenix

Cynthia Cooper broke her own WNBA record with 32 points and added six assists in Houston’s victory over Phoenix.

Cooper, who set the previous mark Friday night with a 30-point performance in an 82-60 victory at Sacramento, was 8 for 12 from the field, including 4 for 4 in the second half.

Tina Thompson added 15 points for the Comets.

Michele Timms led Phoenix with 24 points. Bridget Pettis added 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Houston (77) - Arcain 4-13 5-5 14, Thompson 5-8 2-2 15, Guyton 2-6 1-1 5, Cooper 8-12 10-10 32, Perrot 2-3 2-2 7, Ta.Jackson 0-0 0-0 0, Woosley 1-2 0-0 3, Harris 0-4 1-2 1. Totals 22-48 21-22 77.

Phoenix (69) - Foster 1-8 4-4 6, Webb 3-7 3-4 9, Gillom 1-5 3-4 5, Timms 9-18 2-2 24, Pettis 3-11 3-4 11, Askamp 2-3 1-2 5, Ti.Jackson 1-2 0-0 3, Lieberman-Cline 3-6 0-0 6. Totals 23-60 16-20 69.

Halftime-Phoenix 31, Houston 29. 3-Point goals-Houston 12-17 (Cooper 6-7, Thompson 3-5, Perrot 1-1, Woosley 1-1, Arcain 1-3), Phoenix 7-15 (Timms 4-8, Pettis 2-4, Lieberman-Cline 1-1, Foster 0-1, Webb 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds- Houston 31 (Arcain 7), Phoenix 37 (Pettis 7). Assists-Houston 17 (Cooper 6), Phoenix 16 (Pettis 4). Total fouls-Houston 18, Phoenix 20. Technical-Perrot. A-12,581.