Liberty-Sky Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Aug 20 2012 12:49PM

The Chicago Sky once seemed to be headed toward their first postseason berth in their seventh season.

Now they are plummeting, and a Chicago native who has tormented them in the past could further dampen their hopes.

Cappie Pondexter is second in the WNBA in scoring and will try to help the visiting New York Liberty hand the Sky a seventh straight loss Tuesday night.

Chicago (8-11) started 7-1 before guard Epiphanny Prince injured her foot at Indiana on June 16. The Sky have since dropped 10 of 11, although Prince has been back for both games since the Olympic break.

Her 18 points weren't enough in Sunday's 75-71 overtime loss at last-place Washington. Chicago's six-game skid is its longest since its inaugural 2006 season.

"We have to take from this moment and move on to the next one," center Sylvia Fowles said. "We don't really have time to sob and get into it."

The Sky's downward spiral has brought back memories of their five-game slide to end 2011 as well as a 2-8 swoon to close 2010 that ended their playoff hopes in both seasons. They hold the Eastern Conference's fourth and final postseason spot, with New York (7-13) just 1 1/2 games back.

Pondexter's teams are 16-3 in her career against the Sky. The veteran guard, born in California but raised in Chicago, is averaging 20.5 points against the Sky since joining the Liberty in 2010.

Her 20.1 scoring average this season ranks second in the league behind Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry.

Pondexter surpassed 20 points for a fourth straight game Thursday with 24 in a 79-66 win over East-leading Connecticut, but she had 17 against the Sun two days later in an 85-74 road loss. The Liberty had 26 turnovers in that defeat after committing six Thursday.

"We have to keep our turnovers under 15 to compete with a team like that," coach John Whisenant said.

These teams have split two 2012 meetings, with each winning on the road.

Prince, a former Rutgers star like Pondexter, scored 26 points in the Sky's 73-64 victory June 10. Pondexter led New York with 22.

Chicago didn't have Prince in a 64-59 loss July 6. Pondexter scored a game-high 19 as New York won despite playing without starting frontliners Plenette Pierson (knee and hamstring injuries) and Kia Vaughn (concussion).

Pierson and Vaughn are healthy now and will be out to try to contain Fowles, the league's leading rebounder with 12.2 per game. Fowles averages 17.9 points to rank seventh in the WNBA, but she's turned in two 13-point games since the break.

Pondexter, Pierson lead Liberty past Sky

Posted Aug 22 2012 12:45AM

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) Cappie Pondexter scored 25 points and Plenette Pierson added 21 as the New York Liberty beat the Chicago Sky 77-67 Tuesday night.

The Liberty (8-13) saw an 18-point second half lead trimmed to six early in the fourth quarter, then rebuilt a double-digit advantage and maintained it the rest of the way. New York pulled one-half game behind Chicago for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

``The team we were competing for the playoff spot is Chicago,'' Liberty coach John Whisenant said. ``So getting a win here was very important to us, trying to claw our way back into the playoff race.''

Sylvia Fowles scored 18 points, Shay Murphy had 16 and Epiphanny Prince added 10 for the Sky (8-12), who lost their seventh straight and 11th in 12.

Prince, playing in her third game since returning from a foot injury, was carried off the court with 4:51 to play after rolling her right ankle. She didn't return, but was seen standing courtside through the final minutes.

Fowles and Cash had six points apiece as Chicago led for all but the opening seconds on the way to a 21-16 after one quarter. Pierson paced New York with eight points.

Pondexter scored back-to-back buckets over a 21-second span late in the second quarter to give the Liberty their first lead since the opening minute. It was part of an 13-0 run that helped New York to a 40-32 halftime lead. Pondexter, who grew up in Chicago, had eight points in the period.

``Obviously it's important because you have a buildup of excitement from being home, but more importantly we needed this win to inch closer to the playoffs,'' she said.

The Liberty more than doubled the lead in the third quarter behind 12 points from Pondexter. New York led 61-43 with 1:23 remaining before Chicago pulled within 12 entering the final period.

``We have to put together longer stretches of defense,'' Sky coach Pokey Chatman said. ``You know what New York is going to bring. It starts with Cappie (Pondexter). She is the head of the snake and we didn't do a very good job of cutting that off. Plenette (Pierson) is back and healthy. They made plays.''

New York had lost four of five entering the game, the third meeting of the season with Chicago. The Liberty have now won two of three meetings.

Fowles shot 8 for 14 to become the franchise leader with 811 field goals. Candice Dupree (808) had the previous mark.

``A lot of credit is due to my teammates,'' Fowles said. ``I just have to continue to work hard and push forward.''

• Liberty: --
• Sky: --

• Liberty: --
• Sky: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
• Officials: #39 Michael Price, #46 Tim Greene, #49 Kevin Sparrock
• Attendance: 3638
• Duration: 1:51