Liberty-Dream Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Jun 18 2012 1:48PM

After the most lopsided defeat in franchise history, the New York Liberty might relish the chance to get back on the court. Having to play on the Atlanta Dream's floor, though, may not lead to a much better outcome.

The Liberty also were blown out during their most recent visit to Philips Arena, and the Dream could have league scoring leader Angel McCoughtry back from a sprained left knee for Tuesday night's matchup.

New York (3-7) trailed by a WNBA-record 34 points at halftime Friday en route to a 97-55 loss at Connecticut. Essence Carson was the only Liberty player in double figures with 14 points, and leading scorer Cappie Pondexter was held to a season-low six as the team shot 36.5 percent.

"It was embarrassing, frustrating," said Pondexter, who averages 18.7 points. "We just got a lot of work to do, a lot of soul-searching, trying to figure this thing out before it sinks."

It was the second straight loss following a three-game win streak for New York, which is 1-4 on the road.

Pondexter's 18 points led five Liberty players in double digits in a visit to Atlanta on May 25, but the Dream won 100-74 behind McCoughtry's 23 points, seven assists and six steals.

McCoughtry missed Atlanta's latest game, a 75-73 home defeat to the Sun on Sunday.

Her replacement, Tiffany Hayes, scored 11 points - 20 fewer than McCoughtry had in a 92-59 rout of Los Angeles on Friday. Without its future Olympian around Sunday, Atlanta was held to two points over the final 4:17 and allowed Connecticut to take its first lead of the game with 3.1 seconds left.

"If we had to play her today, we could have, but we just thought it would be best if we sat her," coach Marynell Meadors said. "She just needs rest. She will be fine in the next couple of days."

McCoughtry, though, couldn't prevent Atlanta from losing the most recent meeting with the Liberty on June 5 in New York. She had 21 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and seven steals, but the Dream were limited to eight points over the final five minutes of a 79-74 defeat.

Pondexter had a season-high 26 points during that win, part of a four-game run in which she averaged 24.5 points before her dismal performance Friday.

The Dream (4-6) have alternated wins and losses in their last four contests.

Pondexter, Carson lead Liberty past Atlanta 73-60

By GEORGE HENRY
Posted Jun 19 2012 10:23PM

ATLANTA (AP) The New York Liberty's awful performance in their last game embarrassed Cappie Pondexter.

She was determined not to let it happen again.

``I brought a great deal of energy tonight, which has been inconsistent with us,'' Pondexter said. ``I feel like when we play with a lot of energy it allows us to play both ends of the floor the way we really want to.''

Pondexter had 14 points and a season-high 13 assists and Essence Carson added 14 points in the New York Liberty's 73-60 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night.

The Dream dropped their second straight game with Angel McCoughtry, the WNBA's leading scorer and shot blocker, injured and unable to play.

Sancho Lyttle and Lindsey Harding each finished with 13 points for Atlanta (4-7). Lyttle pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.

New York (4-7) had plenty of incentive after last Friday's debacle at Connecticut, a 42-point loss that was the worst in team history and included 34-point halftime deficit that was the largest in league history.

The Liberty, who snapped a two-game skid, never trailed after Leilani Mitchell pulled up for a 15-foot fast-break jumper to make it 13-12 late in the first.

``We were so hungry for a win,'' Mitchell said. ``We were just playing harder. We were taking it easy in the last couple of practices trying to save our legs for this game.''

New York went up 36-30 on Pondexter's 19-foot fadeaway in transition in the final minute of the second period.

The Dream shot a season-low 35.3 percent. Their five bench players combined to go 6 for 25 from the field, including a 3-for-11 performance from Cathrine Kraayeveld.

Lyttle, Harding and Jessica Moore each finished with three turnovers as Atlanta dropped to 0-4 this season when trailing at halftime.

Now the Dream can only hope they won't have to play without Harding, who fell backward while defending Carson with 4:40 remaining and had to be helped off the court with an apparent right leg injury.

But even with McCoughtry and Harding at full strength, Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors knows her team can't afford to keep missing so many layups.

``I thought we did better going to the offensive boards, but we'd rebound and we wouldn't put the shot down,'' Meadors said. ``We have to make shots.''

The Dream never got closer than eight after Armintie Price's 15-footer made it 65-57 with 5:42 remaining.

It was a second straight tough ending for Atlanta, which lost at home Sunday to Connecticut despite not trailing until the game's final 3.1 seconds.

Kia Vaughn, who scored 12 points for the Liberty, hit a 14-foot jumper from the left baseline with 9:33 remaining to give New York its first double-digit lead at 60-49. Nicole Powell's turnaround jumper nearly two minutes later gave New York its biggest lead at 14.

The Liberty improved to 2-4 on the road.

Atlanta, which fell to 4-4 at home, doesn't know how long McCoughtry will be out with a strained left knee ligament. She sat on the bench and encouraged her teammates, but was not in uniform.

``Not having Angel puts them in a tough situation,'' Pondexter said. ``This gave us the upper hand because we didn't have to focus on her, and we all played loosely and freely. You could tell we just really wanted to win.''

Liberty coach John Whisenant credited Pondexter with spreading the ball around and getting her teammates involved offensively.

``When she plays like she did tonight and we play good team defense, we can win games on the road,'' Whisenant said. ``We demand that she does her part on defense as well as offense. We don't have any other options. She has to perform well for the Liberty to do well. It's that simple.''

• Liberty: Pierson
• Dream: McCoughtry

• Liberty: --
• Dream: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #39 Michael Price, #31 Amy Bonner, #22 Tyler Ford
• Attendance: 4134
• Duration: 1:42