Cappie Pondexter. Photo by: Stacy Podelski/1495 Sports
Four Players ended the game with double figure scoring as the New York Liberty (3-5) snapped their three game losing streak in style via a 81-64 victory over the Washington Mystics (4-4) on Sunday afternoon WNBA Action.
Leading the way for New York in scoring was Cappie Pondexter, who recorded a game-high 21 points, followed by Tina Charles who finished the game 14 points.
For Pondexter this was her second 20-point performance of the season, while Charles scored in double figures for a team-best sixth time this season with 14 points against the Mystics. She also had eight rebounds, recording seven or more boards in each of her first eight games with the Liberty.
Pondexter had this to say on the team’s overall shooting performance today, ““I think we did a great job spacing the ball. We knew where the shots were coming from. Whenever we passed, dribbled, or penetrated the ball we knew that we had someone on the opposite side. Alex (Montgomery) and Ana (Cruz) were able to knock the shots down early for us and it was great for us.”
The Liberty who built a 10-0 lead at the start, was able to gain the lead and not look back putting the pedal to the medal throughout the whole game. Alex Montgomery had some huge three-pointers along with Sugar Rodgers to lead the one-two punch of outside shooting.
Rounding out the scoring for New York was Anna Cruz, who continues to shine at the point position, racked up some great stats with her seven rebounds and five assists. Cruz has had five or more assists in three games.
New York scored 80 or more points for the second time this season and it is the first time the Liberty have cracked 80 points in a win in 2014. The Liberty shot 48.4 percent (30-for62) from the field against Washington, their best shooting percentage of the season.
“This is a game that we needed very badly. It shows what we are capable of doing. It was important that the players had a good game under their belt, and that they know what can happen if they play with that kind of energy,” said New York Liberty Head Coach and General Manager Bill Laimbeer. ‘We made a lot of shots, but the energy level was phenomenal in the first half. That’s what carried us. When we are that locked in, good things happen. We have a good inside game with Tina (Charles) and Plenette (Pierson). Normally we have more points in the paint than that (18), but we made a lot of jump shots. They were good jump shots – open looks, on time, and that was fun basketball to watch.”
Montgomery had this to say on the team’s performance today, ““I feel great about the team’s performance. We all came out strong and really aggressive. We were looking for our shots and our key players. We were aggressive. We knew we couldn’t keep losing because it is very draining. If we come out like that every single game I think we will win every single one.”
The Liberty will have a one day road trip to Tulsa before returning home to Madison Square Garden on Thursday, June 13 to host the Connecticut Sun. Tip-off time for the Liberty v Sun game is set for 7:30 p.m. with that game set to air on the MSG Network.
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