Cappie Pondexter propels New York Liberty to a 69-66 win over Washington Mystics: WNBA Analysis Pt-1
The New York Liberty have been the best team in the Eastern Conference this season when it comes to shooting from the floor. They have taken down big teams, punched above their weight at times and in doing so they have strengthened
their chances of making it to the playoffs this season.
It will only fair to say, that in the season run so far, Cappie Pondexter has been the player that Liberty have relied heavily. She has been an inspiration, the go-to girl when the things got tough.
However, the last eleven days have been nothing short of a nightmare for both Liberty and Cappie. In a wretched spell, barring a 58-56 win over Seattle Storm, the New York outfit lost all three games. What made it worse was that
the tormenter-in-chief during that barren stretch was a team that failed to outwit almost every other side in the league – the Washington Mystics.
Playing at home, the Mystics took down Liberty twice is a 7 day run and when the two sides came face to face for the fourth and the final encounter on Tuesday night at the Prudential Center, Liberty had only one thing in mind –
revenge.
They certainly started like it, blowing away to a 24-11 lead by the time the first quarter ended. However, as the game proceeded, the Mystics started to gain ground. When the third quarter closed, they were only seven points behind.
Mystics drew within one early in the fourth; they did it again with around 1:31 to go. The game was eventually drawn when DeMya Walker made a three point play with 59.8 seconds to go.
New York again went ahead though on Pondexter’s free throws, however when Matee Ajavon knocked down a dagger from downtown on the ensuing possession, it seemed that the Liberty were headed for another heartbreak.
Pondexter had other ideas though.
Coming back from a tactical short time out, she drove down the lane and slipped in a layup with 13.5 left on the clock to put Liberty ahead for good.
New York coach John Whisenant later revealed that after the timeout the plan was to give the ball in Cappie’s hand.
``We told her to read the play and if someone was open, then she could pass it off,'' Whisenant said. ``But if you have a scorer, you don't want the scorer thinking too much about passing, because then the scorer becomes too hesitant.
Cappie took it to the basket and made the shot.''
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