New York Liberty, Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury win: WNBA Roundup 2nd September 2012
New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics:
New York Liberty beat Washington Mystics 79-73 in a closely contested game here at the Prudential in Newark on Saturday. The win gave Liberty the number 4 spot in the Eastern Conference standings just above Chicago Sky.
Essence Carson (20 points) and Cappie Pondexter (16 points) were the top scorers for Liberty along with Kara Braxton, who scored 14 points including eight in crucial 11-0 run to help her side break out of a three game losing streak.
The Mystics (5-21), who lost their fifth straight game in a row, were kept in the game throughout due to some impressive performances by Monique Currie (20 points), Crystal Langhorne (19 points, 8 rebounds) and Jasmine Thomas (18).
The two teams went on head to head for most part of the game but Liberty’s 11-0 run in the second quarter gave them a decisive lead from 31-26 to 40-26, which they held on to until the end of the game.
Liberty (10-16) now has a tough task ahead if they are to make it to the post season. They need to win six out of their next eight games and with their premier performer Pondexter struggling with a heel injury, they will have to
be on top of their game to reach the play offs.
They now play at home against Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.
Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky:
Indiana Fever closed their gap on Eastern Conference leaders Connecticut Sun when they beat Chicago Sky 81-64 in a home game on Saturday night.
Briann January scored 19 points, Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas scored 17 each with Catchings also completing a double-double with 10 rebounds to send Chicago Sky (9-16) reeling down to the fifth spot behind New York Liberty.
Epiphanny Prince scored 22 points for the Chicago, whose miserable run continues as they have now lost 10 of their last 11 outings. The Fever (17-8) did not have a perfect start either missing 10 of their first 11 shots at the
rim but they made up for the early disappointment when they went on an 18-3 run before half time to give themselves a 45-31 lead at the break.
The disappointing fact for the Sky was that none of their starting five except Prince scored more than 4 points allowing Fever to keep the pressure on. Fever’s fifth straight win of the season shows a glimpse of the form they are
in and pose a real threat to the leaders Connecticut.
Their next rivals are Atlanta Dream whom they will play on Wednesday in an away game.
Phoenix Mercury vs. San Antonio Super Stars:
DeWanna Bonner’s hot run of form continued on Saturday night as she took the game away from San Antonio Silver Stars with 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists helping her side beat the Texas side 94-90. This was also the first
time Phoenix Mercury (6-19) have won back to back games this season.
Diana Taurasi also had a good game with 25 points and four assists dragging Mercury out of the last spot in the Western Conference standings. However, the Silver Stars were no walkovers as they continued putting pressure on Phoenix
until the very last minute and at one point with 37 seconds to go, Danielle Robinson scored a three-pointer to cut down Phoenix’s lead to 88-86.
For the Silver Stars, Sophia Young returned with her all-time best of 32 points and eight rebounds while Danielle Adams impressed again with 21 points. Throughout the game, there was hardly anything separating the two sides but
successive attacks on the rim and three-pointers by Briana Gilbreath, Taurasi and Bonner during the second quarter gave them a crucial lead of 11 points at half time which made the eventual difference between the two sides.
The Silver Stars have now lost 3 matches in a row and sit at the number three spot in the table behind Los Angeles Sparks. They will now play Indiana Fever in an important game while Phoenix Mercury will play New York Liberty on
Wednesday.
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