Azzi Shoots Lasers To Win Over Blizzard

Jennifer Azzi scored 20 points - all in the second half - and made two crucial free throws in the final 7 seconds Friday night as the San Jose Lasers rallied for an 80-78 victory over the New England Blizzard in an ABL playoff game in Hartford, Conn.

Azzi scored 16 points in the fourth quarter for the Lasers, who lead the best-of-3 series 1-0.

New England led 63-53 late in the third quarter when Blizzard forward Carolyn Jones, the league’s secondleading scorer, was forced to the bench for nearly 4 minutes with a knee injury.

That’s when Azzi took over, scoring 10 straight points.

Lasers 80, Blizzard 78 Hartford, Conn.

San Jose (80) - Smith 4-9 3-4 12, Sam 10-19 1-2 22, Machanguana 2-8 2-4 6, Azzi 7-15 4-5 20, Holland-Corn 5-14 7-8 19, Gaither 0-1 1-2 1, Henning 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 28-69 18-25 80.

New England (78) - Hodges 0-6 4-4 4, Deden 1-7 0-0 2, Berry 4-9 1-1 9, Jones 9-20 11-12 32, Rizzotti 3-7 0-0 8, Tate 0-4 0-0 0, Roland 1-2 0-0 2, Wolters 9-14 3-3 21. Totals 27-69 19-20 78.

San Jose 25 11 19 25 - 80

New England 15 25 23 15 - 78

3-Point goals-SJ 6-17 (Azzi 2-4, Holland-Corn 2-5, Smith 1-3, Sam 1-5), NE 5-16 (Jones 3-7, Rizzotti 2-6, Berry 0-1, Deden 0-2). Fouled out-Smith. Rebounds-SJ 42 (Sam 9), NE 45 (Berry 12). Assists-SJ 17 (Holland-Corn 6), NE 16 (Hodges 5). Total fouls-SJ 20, NE 19. A-10,183.