NEW YORK, July 18 (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Sparks coach Michael Cooper told his team it was "winning time." Apparently, the New York Liberty were listening.

Tamika Whitmore made 11-of-14 shots for 25 points as the Liberty dished out the majority of the punishment for a physical 72-59 victory over the league-leading Sparks.

The game was tied at 35-35 with just under 15 minutes remaining when Cooper told his team in the huddle to take the game over. He made a reference to "winning time," a phrase used often by his former teammate with the Lakers, Magic Johnson.

New York was the team that became the aggressor as Teresa Weatherspoon made back-to-back baskets to give her team the lead for good. Crystal Robinson drained a 3-pointer and Sue Wicks put home a follow shot to cap a 9-0 run for a 44-35 advantage with 11:20 remaining.

A 3-pointer by Los Angeles guard Sophia Witherspoon, a former member of the Liberty, pulled the Sparks within 57-54 with 5:27 remaining. New York's Becky Hammon answered with a 3-pointer before Lisa Leslie scored to cut the deficit to four points.

New York scored the next 11 points to put away the game. Tari Phillips had six points in the run, including a follow shot for a 71-56 cushion with 33 seconds to go.

Leslie collected 16 points and 11 rebounds as she statistically won the head-to-head battle with Phillips, who Leslie criticized at the All-Star Game for overly physical play. Phillips put up a pair of posters of Leslie in the locker room for motivation and finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.

The first half saw plenty of intensity as Whitmore scored at the buzzer for a 30-29 edge. In one exchange, Witherspoon punched Hammon twice in the stomach, prompting Hammon to complain in vain to the referees.

Phillips and Los Angeles forward DeLisha Milton engaged in some pushing and shoving in the second half and were whistled for a double technical.