Mystics-Liberty Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Aug 15 2011 4:33PM

The Washington Mystics have won five games, but two of them came in a recent seven-day span against the New York Liberty.

These teams meet for the third time in 11 days Tuesday night, when the Mystics visit Newark in search of a third straight victory over the Liberty.

Washington (5-16) owns the WNBA's second-worst record while New York (13-11) is in third place in the Eastern Conference as it tries to gain a postseason berth. All three meetings between these clubs have been competitive, however, with the Mystics winning twice at home, 91-81 on Aug. 6 and 64-63 on Friday.

The Liberty trailed in the fourth quarter of their 75-71 home win over the Mystics on July 28.

Mystics forward Crystal Langhorne has excelled in the season series, averaging 18.7 points on 65.7 percent shooting, and guard Matee Ajavon is averaging 17.3 points.

Washington will be on the road again after falling 82-75 to Connecticut on Saturday. Langhorne scored 17 points, and Ajavon and Marissa Coleman each had 14.

"We have played with tremendous heart and determination all year. There have been games that we have come up short, but we have been in every single game right up until the end," coach Trudi Lacey said. "We played a tight game, we weren't as aggressive as I would have liked us to be."

Coleman made four 3-pointers after making 3 of 19 attempts over her four previous games. She is averaging 8.3 points against New York.

"Just wanted to make a more conscious effort to shoot when I was open," Coleman said. "The past few games I have been a little hesitant and passing up some open shots. So I just made it a point to come into this game and shoot when I was open."

The Liberty have dropped three of four, falling twice to the Mystics and 82-71 at Indiana on Saturday. Cappie Pondexter led the way with 30 points, but she had a team-high eight turnovers as New York committed 23 that led to 25 points for the Fever.

New York point guard Leilani Mitchell failed to score in 34 minutes, and reserve Essence Carson made 6 of 9 shots for 16 points. Carson, though, is averaging 7.0 points on 33.3 percent shooting against Washington this year.

The Liberty are shooting 44.7 percent to lead the East while the Mystics are last at 41.2 percent. Washington is last in the conference in allowing opponents to shoot 46.4 percent.

Pondexter scores late for Liberty in 69-66 win

Posted Aug 16 2011 10:01PM

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) With the Liberty trailing in the final seconds, New York coach John Whisenant knew exactly who was going to get the ball.

``We had one play there,'' he said. ``We got to give it to Cappie.''

They did, and Pondexter made a driving basket with 13.5 seconds left to put the Liberty ahead for good in their 69-66 win over the Washington Mystics.

``We told her to read the play and if someone was open, then she could pass it off,'' Whisenant said. ``But if you have a scorer, you don't want the scorer thinking too much about passing, because then the scorer becomes too hesitant. Cappie took it to the basket and made the shot.''

Pondexter scored 26 points against the Mystics and former Rutgers teammate Matee Ajavon.

Playing in her hometown, Ajavon nailed a clutch 3-pointer with 25.3 seconds left to give the Mystics their first lead of the entire game at 66-65, after trailing by 16 in the first half.

But Pondexter drove the lane against Ajavon, her former Rutgers teammate, and her shot rattled home.

``I knew she was guarding me, but I knew I could take it to the basket and score,'' Pondexter said.

The Liberty (14-11) had dropped two straight, including a 64-63 loss in Washington that Pondexter remembers well because she also had a shot in the closing seconds.

``I didn't make that shot. I didn't want the same thing to happen again,'' Pondexter said. ``I wanted to be aggressive and I believed I could make the shot.''

Crystal Langhorne scored 25 points for the Mystics (5-17).

Kara Braxton blocked Langhorne's attempted drive to the basket with 2 seconds left. Plenette Pierson, who had 16 points for the Liberty, made a free throw with 0.7 seconds left.

Ajavon, who scored 32 points in the Mystics' win over the Liberty Aug. 12, was held to 12 points.

``All our games have been close lately,'' Whisenant said. ``I wish I had an explanation for our lulls. We are obviously not where we need to be, but we're still right there in the playoff hunt.''

• Mystics: --
• Liberty: --

• Mystics: --
• Liberty: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
• Officials: #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #7 Clarke Stevens, #28 Angellica Suffren
• Attendance: 6223
• Duration: 2:03