Dydek stars against Lynx

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Margo Dydek returned from a one-game suspension and scored 13 points to help Utah to an 87-56 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Friday night, the Starzz's largest margin of victory in franchise history.

Dydek was suspended for throwing an elbow in Utah's win over Cleveland on Sunday. The center blocked five shots against the Lynx and helped limit them to 33 percent shooting from the field.

"Having Margo Dydek back in the game gave us a lift," Starzz coach Candi Harvey said. "She just gives something in the paint that obviously you can't replace at 7-2."

The Starzz (10-5) held Katie Smith, the WNBA's second-leading scorer, to six points on 1-for-10 shooting and Svetlana Abrosimova to two points, 13 below her average.

"I thought Adrienne Goodson and Marie (Ferdinand) did a fantastic job on Smith and Abrosimova," Harvey said. "They present some interesting matchups because of how small they are but we did a tremendous job."

Natalie Williams and Ferdinand each scored 14 points for Utah, while Goodson added 13 points and Jennifer Azzi had 11. Williams took advantage of Minnesota's lack of size and was 6-for-7 from the field.

"We knew we had an advantage in the paint," Harvey said. "We came out and pounded the ball inside and out."

Shaunzinski Gortman scored a season-high 14 points to lead the Lynx (6-10), who have lost six straight road games, while Tamara Moore added 10.

The Starzz have followed up four of their five losses with a win.

"Sometimes I think this team likes to have a tough love mentality," Harvey said. "I could tell this morning we had a very focused, very energetic shoot around."

Notes: Tamika Williams, Minnesota's leading rebounder, sat out Friday's game after needing 15 stitches to close a cut inside her mouth on Wednesday against Washington. ... Goodson left the game with 4:30 remaining with a bruised right hip. ... Utah has beaten Minnesota in five of their last six meetings and five in a row at the Delta Center.