WNBA.com was in Madison Square Garden to cover Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever. Below are some key takeaways.

Epiphanny Prince is Divine

On a night where the New York Liberty were forced to start the Eastern Conference Finals a day early — as a result of a scheduling conflict with an appearance at Madison Square Garden by the none other than the Pope — it was serendipitous that a player named Epiphanny played a starring role.

Epiphanny Prince, the Liberty’s lethal scoring guard, scored 17 points in the the Liberty’s 84-67 win over the Indiana Fever in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

As for the scheduling anomaly that forced the Liberty to host Game 1 versus the Fever just one night after clinching its series against the Mystics?

“What can you do? It’s the Pope,” Prince said with a laugh.

Prince’s prayers were answered from downtown on Wednesday night as she went 3-for-3 from behind the arc in the first half, including this one from the clouds.

“My coaches and teammates were always talking to me and calling plays for me to get open looks at the basket and I was confident in my shot today,” said Prince, who shot just 2-for-12 the night before. “I didn’t dwell on yesterday’s performance. I didn’t feel bad for myself. I just went out and took more shots than I normally do pregame and it translated to the game.”

Wednesday’s performance was a statement for both the Liberty and Prince. Many began to wonder if the Fever, after upsetting the Sky in the Conference Semifinals, were the safer bet to advance to the Finals than a Liberty team that could have understandably been fatigued, while Prince, who stuggled in Game 3 vs. the Mystics, knew she would have to right the ship quick.

“I just wanted to come out with a new focus coming into a new series,” Prince said. “The last series is over so whatever we did there means nothing now.”

On this night, the schedule didn’t matter either. With a big showing on Wednesday, the Liberty got exactly what they wanted.

Divine intervention? Probably not. A decisive 1-0 lead? Amen.

Sweet As Sugar

Liberty head coach Bill Laimbeer remarked after Game 3 of the East Semis that he told his team prior to the playoffs to be ready, that you never know “who is going to do it for you” on any given night. That night, it was a combined effort, but the play of Georgetown product Sugar Rodgers was huge.

On Wednesday, Rodgers again showed off a sweet shooting touch – one that helped the Liberty break its lead open. So far, she’s averaging four points more (12.5 PPG) than her season average (8.1 PPG) in points per game, and her increased production couldn’t have come at a better time for New York.

Ask Rodgers to explain what has ignited the recent offensive outburst and she’s quick to note that she isn’t doing anything different.

“I’ve just been working hard,” Rodgers said. “In and out of the gym, before practice, after practice, and it’s just paying off.”

Her teammates agree. Many credit her work ethic and note that she’s constantly working hard to get better and be ready when called upon.

“You have your practiced moments,” Rodgers said, “but just before practice, after practice, I get in my own zone and I just get in the gym and work.”

Players’ Tribune: “Making It Out”

Been There, Done That

The Indiana Fever find themselves in a familiar situation down 1-0 against a higher seed. Head coach Stephanie White’s squad dropped the Eastern Conference Semifinals series opener to the Chicago Sky.

But they won on their home floor and hit the road to clinch a spot in these Eastern Conference Finals. Although a blowout loss on the road could have a demoralizing effect on a team that’s now playing to extend its season, don’t expect that from Indiana.

With a roster littered with playoff experience, they’re not new to the challenges that face them when they return to action Sunday. Throw in Tamika Catchings – who is now tied for second in WNBA history in career playoff games – and you have a team that can easily rebound in Game 2.

The Fever have earned a reputation as a gritty, grind-it-out team that will fight until the bitter end, and they’ll look to add to that status Sunday back home at Bankers Life Fieldhose.

New Territory

On the flipside, this Liberty team has yet to be in this situation as one unit. Plenty of the roster’s components have been part of a team that won the first game of a three-game series, but this team as a whole has yet to go out and try to closeout a series on the road.

Now, though, they’ll get that chance. But they’ll have to bring the same defensive intensity and locked in approach on both ends of the floor in order to get it done.

“We have homecourt advantage,” Rodgers said, “and we took advantage of that tonight. Now, we’ve got to do it in their place. It’s going to be tough. We’ve just got to go in there with the same mindset – defend, share the ball and just have fun.”

Tune in to Game 2 Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN