Fever-Liberty Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
Posted Jun 03 2012 12:57AM

The Indiana Fever have matched the best start in franchise history.

The New York Liberty are off to their worst start, thanks in part to the Fever.

Indiana looks to set a club record by capitalizing on another matchup with the last-place Liberty and completing a sweep of a home-and-home set Sunday night at Prudential Center.

The Fever (4-0) are trying to prove they're contenders for a WNBA championship after falling to Atlanta in last season's Eastern Conference finals. They're certainly playing like contenders so far in 2012.

Indiana has tied its longest winning streak to open a season, achieved in both 2006 and 2007. Another meeting with New York (0-5) may be just what the Fever need to win a fifth straight.

They had little trouble with the Liberty on Saturday, rolling to a 91-68 home victory. Indiana made 13 of 26 3-pointers and nearly tripled New York in bench points, holding a 52-18 edge.

Indiana has lost its last two road games against the Liberty, including an 87-72 defeat Sept. 17 in Game 2 of the East semifinals. The Fever clinched the series with a victory at home two days later.

Tamika Catchings has totaled 11 points while shooting just 3 of 16 from the field the last two times the Fever have visited the Liberty, including a two-point effort in the playoff matchup.

The reigning WNBA MVP was much better at home against the Liberty on Saturday, scoring 14 of her 16 points in the first half. However, she was issued a technical after making contact with an official while arguing a foul call.

Averaging 19.8 points on the season, Catchings may be in for another strong performance since New York is being outscored by an average of 17.4 points during the worst start to a season in its franchise history.

The Liberty, surrendering 88.2 points per game, could use an improved effort from guard Cappie Pondexter, who was held to a season-low 13 points while missing 11 of 15 field-goal attempts in Saturday's loss.

Pondexter leads New York with 16.6 points per game, while forward Plenette Pierson's 15.0 rank second.

Pierson scored a season-high 24 points Saturday at Indiana, as she and Pondexter were the only members of the Liberty to reach double figures.

They combined for 29 points against Indiana in Game 2 of last year's playoffs.

New York made 5 of 17 3-point attempts Saturday, and is shooting 24.7 percent from beyond the arc on the season while allowing opponents to shoot 42.0 percent from long range.

Pondexter leads Liberty past Fever for 1st win

By VIN A. CHERWOO
Posted Jun 03 2012 9:54PM

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) The New York Liberty were fired up after a 23-point loss at Indiana the previous night gave them the longest winless start in franchise history.

Cappie Pondexter scored 25 points to lead the Liberty to an 87-72 victory over the Fever on Sunday night. Essence Carson had 16 points, Plenette Pierson added 14, Leilani Mitchell 13 and Kia Vaughn 10 for New York (1-5).

``We were extra motivated, everybody was angry,'' Pondexter said. ``We finally got a win under our belt. ... We're happy about it. Winning changes everything.''

The Liberty, who shot 44 percent (31 for 70), led by double digits from late in the second quarter until the Fever made a run down the stretch in the fourth.

After Vaughn's jumper with 6:20 to go put the Liberty ahead 75-58, matching its largest lead of the game, the Fever used a 12-2 run to pull within seven with 3:20 to go.

However, Pondexter scored nine points as the Liberty outscored the Fever 12-6 the rest of the way to seal the victory.

``I knew we weren't going to lose,'' Pondexter said. ``We made a lot of mistakes in our previous five games, where we knew we had the game and then lost it down the stretch. ... But today we stuck together. I think that's a real positive. ... I think any (opposing) team would have lost tonight.''

New York was 9 for 19 (47 percent) from beyond the arc and finished with 20 assists and 12 steals. After getting outscored by an average of 17.4 points in their first five games, the Liberty finished with their highest total of the season.

``We got back to what gives us a chance to compete with anybody in the league, and that is our defense,'' New York coach John Whisenant said. ``Everyone learned from last night. ... We had even distribution of our scoring. When we play defense harder, our offense is better.''

Tamika Catchings scored 19 points and Katie Douglas had 15 for the Fever (4-1). Briann January added 12 points and Shavonte Zellous 10.

Indiana shot 40 percent (23 for 57), including 7 for 19 on 3-pointers. The Fever also committed 22 turnovers, which led to 27 points for the Liberty.

``Give New York all the credit in the world,'' Indiana coach Lin Dunn said. ``I thought they responded to the loss last night in Indiana. They came out very intense, very aggressive. Played probably the best defense we've seen all season, got in our passing lanes, jammed our cutters and we didn't respond well to their defensive intensity.''

Trailing by 10 points after one quarter, Indiana pulled within three twice in the second. Catchings' 3 cut the deficit to 30-27 with 5:51 left in the period. Pondexter then made three free throws 17 seconds later.

January hit a 3 with 4:51 remaining in the second to cut the deficit in half, but Pierson made two free throws and Pondexter had a layup to push the Liberty's lead to 37-30 a minute later.

Carson made two 3s sandwiched around two free throws by Pierson to extend New York's advantage to 50-37 with 1:24 to go in the first half.

Zellous' two free throws with less than 2 seconds to go in the half cut the Fever's deficit to 53-42 at the break.

``They came out really aggressive and we didn't handle the pressure well,'' Catchings said. ``As we continue to build on becoming a better team, every game matters. We went through our runs, they went through their runs, but they were able to fight through it the whole game.''

The Liberty shot 50 percent (18 for 36) in the first half, including 6 for 11 on 3s. The Fever shot 42 percent (13 for 31), including 6 for 15 from beyond the arc.

Indiana committed eight turnovers in the third quarter as they failed to cut their deficit below 10 points. Vaughn's jumper with 1:51 to go in the period extended the Liberty's lead to 66-51.

DeMya Walker's driving layup with 6:47 remaining put New York ahead 73-56.

``(The win) feels awesome but it's a long season ahead of us,'' Pondexter said. ``We just got to continue to keep going, staying positive with each other and just keep working.''

Carson made a 3-pointer and Pierson had a layup to give the Liberty a 13-7 lead with 5 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter. New York then closed the period with a 9-3 run, taking a 24-14 lead on Pondexter's fastbreak layup with 2 seconds to go.

• Fever: --
• Liberty: --

• Fever: --
• Liberty: Walker

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
• Officials: #9 Denise Brooks, #24 Tony Dawkins, #43 Brenda Pantoja
• Attendance: 4905
• Duration: 1:56