Sparks-Liberty Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Jun 25 2011 1:42PM

The New York Liberty have yet to win in their new home while the Los Angeles Sparks are in search of their first road win.

One of these teams will end those woes Sunday when the Liberty and Sparks meet for the second time in six days.

New York (3-4) is playing at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., for the next three seasons due to renovations at Madison Square Garden. The Liberty have been outscored by an average of 11.0 points in the fourth quarter of losses in their first two games in Newark, joining Washington as the only teams without a home win.

Los Angeles (4-2) is perfect at home and 0-2 on the road - the only other squad without a road win is league-worst Tulsa. The Sparks opened a seven-game road stretch with Friday's 90-80 overtime loss at San Antonio.

Candace Parker had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Sparks, who blew a five-point lead by failing to score over the last 1:46 of regulation. Los Angeles had a three-game win streak snapped.

"We had the game," Parker said. "I think we just didn't execute defensively or offensively down the stretch. Coming off them tying it in regulation, I think we were still hung up on that. We weren't focused as much."

Reserve guard Kristi Toliver failed to reach double figures for the first time with eight points. She had a much bigger impact in Tuesday's 96-91 home win over New York with 16 points and a season-high seven assists.

The Liberty struggled to contain the Los Angeles frontcourt. Parker, DeLisha Milton-Jones and Tina Thompson combined for 62 points.

The Sparks are shooting a league-best 45.2 percent from 3-point range and hit 11 of 19 attempts against the Liberty, with five players making at least two.

New York had won three straight and nine of 12 versus Los Angeles before Tuesday. Cappie Pondexter scored a team-high 22 points and Plenette Pierson added 15.

Pondexter seems to be ending some early season shooting woes, connecting on 45.7 percent from the field in the last two games and 9 of 19 from 3-point range. She shot 4 of 21 from beyond the arc and 35.6 percent overall through five games.

The guard had 23 points and 10 assists in Thursday's 94-82 victory at Tulsa. She was pressed into point-guard duty in the third quarter with starter Leilani Mitchell in foul trouble and rookie Sydney Colson sidelined by a knee injury.

"We really don't like to have Cappie bring the ball up," coach John Whisenant said.

Kia Vaughn scored a season-high 24 points on 12-of-14 shooting and added 12 rebounds as the Liberty ended a four-game slide.

"She had a good day," said Whisenant about Vaughn, who entered that game averaging 10.7 points. "(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."

Pondexter scores 22 as Liberty beat Sparks 77-67

By VIN A. CHERWOO
Posted Jun 26 2011 6:39PM

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points to lead the New York Liberty to a 77-67 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.

Essence Carson had 18 points, Plenette Pierson added 16 and the Liberty (4-4) got their first win at Prudential Center, their new home for the next three seasons while Madison Square Garden undergoes renovations during the summers. New York had lost its first two at home earlier this month.

Candace Parker scored 16 points and Tina Thompson had 14 to lead Los Angeles (4-3). Parker appeared to injure her right knee with about 6 minutes to go. After staying down on the court while holding her knee for a few minutes, she limped off the court and went to the locker room. She did not return.

The Liberty used an 18-0 run bridging halftime to take a 47-33 lead with 8:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Pondexter scored eight points in the final 39 seconds of the second quarter. After making the second of back-to-back 3s with 2.4 seconds left, she stole the ensuing inbounds pass near the free-throw line and made a layup before the buzzer to put the Liberty ahead 41-33 at the break.

New York then scored the first six points of the third, on two baskets by Pierson and two free throws by Pondexter to take their 14-point advantage. Los Angeles missed four shots and had four turnovers during their drought.

The Sparks made a run late in the third, scoring seven consecutive points to pull to 53-48 on Milton-Jones' layup with 1:43 left.

However, Carson hit back-to-back jumpers, and after Natasha Lacy made a free throw for the Sparks, Pondexter's jumper with 5.5 seconds left gave New York a 10-point lead heading to the fourth quarter.

The Liberty scored eight of the first nine points of the final period, taking a 67-50 lead, their biggest advantage of the game, on Vaughn's two free throws with 7:09 left.

The Sparks made another run, scoring six consecutive points to pull within eight on Kristi Toliver's fadeaway jumper with 1:56 left. Pondexter then sealed the game with two free throws in the final minute.

Parker hit a 3-pointer to start a 12-0 run by the Sparks in the first quarter, and she capped it with a layup for a 16-7 lead with 3:22 remaining in the period.

The Liberty missed 10 shots during their drought, and Carson ended it with a jumper with 2:18 to go. That started a 10-0 spurt that gave New York a one-point lead in the final minute of the first quarter.

• Sparks: --
• Liberty: --

• Sparks: --
• Liberty: Pondexter

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
• Officials: #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #31 Amy Bonner, #46 Tim Greene
• Attendance: 7625
• Duration: 1:54