Liberty-Shock Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Jun 22 2011 9:50PM

After a solid start to the season, the New York Liberty have hit a rut. Facing the last-place Tulsa Shock could help them get back on track.

The Liberty look to avoid a fifth consecutive loss when they visit the Shock on Thursday afternoon.

New York opened the season with road victories over Atlanta and Indiana but continues to struggle defensively during its skid. Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points and Kia Vaughn added 14 with 12 rebounds as the Liberty allowed their most points of the season in a 96-91 loss at Los Angeles on Tuesday.

New York, which has not dropped five in a row since July 23-Aug. 4, 2009, is giving up the second-most points in the WNBA at 85.7 per contest. Opponents are shooting 47.8 percent - also the second-highest total in the league.

Though the Sparks made 49.3 percent of their shots, New York still had two looks at tying the game late but failed on both attempts.

"Our whole game plan was get to the last two minutes with a chance to win," coach John Whisenant said. "We were there, we just couldn't execute at the end of the game."

The Liberty (2-4) were able to execute while winning both of their meetings with the Shock in 2010, including 92-78 at Tulsa on June 25. Nicole Powell had 16 points and Pondexter added 15 in that contest.

Powell totaled 36 points in the two games with Tulsa last season but has scored just 24 during the slide. Pondexter, meanwhile, has averaged 18.8 points in four road games in 2011 compared to 10.0 in two at home.

Ivory Latta has averaged 19.5 points over the last four games for Tulsa (1-6), which looks to avoid a second straight defeat after falling 82-77 to defending WNBA champion Seattle on Tuesday.

Latta was held to 11 points as the Shock shot 38.6 percent overall and were outscored 30-13 in the third quarter after leading by six at halftime. Tulsa is shooting a league-worst 40.0 percent from the field.

"We aren't happy with the outcome," veteran guard Sheryl Swoopes said. "We are definitely getting better with each practice. We need to bring that same effort to the game."

Tiffany Jackson had 20 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday for Tulsa, which is 1-2 at home.

Vaughn, Pondexter lead Liberty to 94-82 win

Posted Jun 23 2011 5:15PM

TULSA (AP) Cappie Pondexter surprised a spectator after scoring 23 points and dishing 10 assists to lift the New York Liberty to a 94-82 win Thursday over the Tulsa Shock.

She handed over her orange Nike shoes to a Tulsa ballboy.

``He was excited,'' Pondexter said. ``He had never seen shoes like that. Before the game, he asked me if he could have them. I thought why not.''

Pondexter was pressed into point guard duty in the third period with starter Leilani Mitchell in foul trouble and rookie Sydney Colson sidelined with a knee injury.

``We really don't like to have Cappie bring the ball up,'' said New York coach John Whisenant, an Oklahoma native.

She got help on the inside from center Kia Vaughn, who finished with a season-high 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Liberty (3-4) snapped a four-game losing skid. Vaugh went 12 for 14 from the field, contributing to New York's 54 points in the paint.

``She had a good day,'' Whisenant said. ``(The low post) is where the game is won. We lost our post players from a year ago and this was a great opportunity for Kia.''

Former Shock forward Plenette Pierson added 14 points and four rebounds before fouling out. Liberty guard Essence Carson added 12 points off the bench and Nicole Powell had 10.

Shock rookie Elizabeth Cambage led Tulsa (1-7) with 22 points. The 6-foot-8 Cambage was 8 of 9 from the field. Fellow rookie Kayla Pedersen was 5 of 8 and finished with 18 points.

Ivory Latta and Tiffany Jackson added 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Tulsa, which trailed 44-32 at the half. The Shock rallied behind nine consecutive points from Cambage, closing to 58-53.

A BOK Center crowd of 4,682 got excited after Tiffany Jackson's jumper brought Tulsa within 76-75 with just under five minutes left. But the Liberty closed the game on an 18-7 run.

Shock coach Nolan Richardson said the team dug a hole early, but tried to battle back.

``When we got within three points and we didn't come up with the defensive rebound,'' he said. ``Not only did we not come up with it, they got the stick back and broke our momentum.

``We got into our pressure defense, which is the way we had intended to play. In order for us to have a chance, we would like to press quite a bit. Fatigue makes cowards of us all, and ideally I would like to press all the time.''

• Liberty: --
• Shock: --

• Liberty: --
• Shock: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
• Officials: #13 Cameron Inouye, #7 Clarke Stevens, #62 Jeff Wooten
• Attendance: 4682
• Duration: 2:4