Liberty-Sun Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Sep 10 2011 1:36PM

Although the top spot in the Eastern Conference is set, the rest of its playoff seeds will be determined on the final day of the regular season.

In one of the two games that will sort out those positions, the second-place Connecticut Sun look to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason when they host the third-place New York Liberty on Sunday.

Connecticut (20-13) is one game ahead of New York (19-14) and Atlanta. If the Sun win or the Dream lose to first-place Indiana on Sunday, Connecticut will enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed.

However, if New York and Atlanta win, the Liberty would secure the second spot by way of the WNBA's three-way tiebreaking procedure, which awards the team with the best winning percentage in head-to-head games involving all of the tied teams.

Home court is particularly critical for the Sun, who are 6-11 on the road. They have won five in a row at home while averaging 92.8 points.

"We are trying to nail down home-court advantage and we've got one more opportunity to be able to do so," guard Kara Lawson said. "We've looked at all these games as must-win games ... so this is going to be a huge challenge for us with New York coming in."

Connecticut is looking to bounce back after an 85-74 loss at Atlanta on Tuesday. The Sun were held to 32 second-half points.

"It was not a top-flight performance," coach Mike Thibault said.

Tina Charles finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for her 22nd double-double of the season, matching her league record set last year.

Charles has had only one double-double in three matchups against New York, finishing with 29 points and 14 rebounds in an 84-81 overtime loss Aug. 18.

The Liberty, who dropped the first two meetings with the Sun this year, have won three of four overall.

"We want to end on a good note. We have to prepare well for Connecticut," Essence Carson said after scoring 18 points in New York's 83-75 win over Indiana on Friday. "They're also a great team, No. 2 right now. We have to come in and play our game, really prepare well for them."

Cappie Pondexter is looking to end the season on a high note after a rough stretch, averaging 11.3 points over the last three games while shooting 21.1 percent. Pondexter, seventh in the league in scoring with 17.5 points per game, scored 27 in the overtime win over Connecticut after being held to a combined 27 in the first two meetings.

Charles double-double leads Sun past Liberty 69-63

Posted Sep 11 2011 7:17PM

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Tina Charles scored 18 points and added 17 rebounds for her WNBA record 23rd double-double of the season to lead the Connecticut Sun past the New York Liberty 69-63 on Sunday.

Connecticut (21-13) earned homecourt advantage in the first round of the WNBA playoffs, which begin this week. The Sun will play Atlanta, which clinched the third seed after beating Indiana on Sunday.

The Liberty will play the Fever.

Charles owned the previous double-double record last season at 22. Charles also finished with 374 rebounds, 24 fewer than last year when she set the league record.

Asjha Jones added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Sun. Jones' three-point play with 1:09 left gave the Sun the lead for good at 65-63. Connecticut held New York scoreless over the last 1:26, forcing two turnovers.

New York's Cappie Pondexter had possession of the ball in the final minute, but defensive specialist Tan White stole the ball to preserving the lead.

Nicole Powell led the Liberty with 14 points. Pondexter had 12 points on 5 of 21 shooting, while Kara Braxton finished 5 of 5 for 10 points.

White's steal came with 24 seconds remaining.

``I just swung and tipped it and then it was loose and I just grabbed it,'' White said. ``I was trying to be aggressive on the ball and make her speed up whatever she was trying to do.''

New York (19-15) used a 6-0 run midway through the fourth period to take a 59-54 lead with 3:32 left.

Lelani Mitchell's off balance 3-pointer as time expired in the first half capped a 21-6 run and gave New York a 33-26 halftime lead.

Jones was 6 for 17 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line.

``It is just good to know that people can step it up when it counts,'' Jones said. ``We started the game kind of sketchy here and there, with shot clock violations and things like that. But in the end we settled down and got people the ball when we needed them to have it.''

The Sun's defense produced eight steals and six blocked shots. New York shot 9 for 12 from the free-throw line, while Connecticut went 16 for 20.

``That is playoff kind of atmosphere and good defense causes bad shooting usually,'' New York coach John Whisenant said. ``They beat us at the foul line, which has been our story all year.''

Charles shot 6 for 10 in the first half, while the rest of the Sun went 4-26.

``We calmed down at halftime,'' Sun coach Mike Thibault said. ``Me included.''

• Liberty: --
• Sun: --

• Liberty: --
• Sun: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• Officials: #55 Eric Brewton, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #45 Tom Mauer
• Attendance: 9115
• Duration: 1:54