Liberty Beats Mystics 78-57
N E W Y O R K, Aug. 15 -- The New York Liberty rode the 3-point shooting of Becky Hammon and the strong inside game of Tari Phillips into the Eastern Conference finals.
Phillips, selected the WNBA’s most improved player earlier inthe day, had 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Liberty beat theWashington Mystics 78-57 Monday night to advance to the conferencefinals for the second straight season.
“It was a very befitting day for us to actually clinch thispart of the series,” said Phillips, who sang the national anthemto the roar of the crowd of 15,309. “[My teammates] were therewhen I received the award, and everybody was kind of fired up.”
Hammon scored 19 points, including 3-for-5 on 3-pointers. NewYork will face tonight’s winner of the Orlando-Clevelandseries on Thursday.
Home Court Advantage
Vickie Johnson, Tamika Whitmore and Crystal Robinson scored 10points apiece, and Teresa Weatherspoon had 10 assists for theLiberty, who have won 11 straight home games. New York’s last homeloss was 72-67 on June 25 against Los Angeles.
“They broke our press pretty easily and rebounded,” saidWashington’s Chamique Holdsclaw, who was held to 12 points on6-for-15 shooting. “Spoon was great, and Tari was a beastinside.”
Markita Aldridge also had 12 points for the Mystics, who wereout scored 40-28 in the paint and out rebounded 31-19.
“Our defense was very intense,” said New York coach RichieAdubato, whose team led 40-25 at halftime. “We didn’t give themany second shots. We controlled the backboards.”
On June 13, Holdsclaw scored 23 points and hit the game-winningshot against New York in a 57-56 victory, one of only fourregular-season home losses by the Liberty.
Holdsclaw Clamped Down
But New York clamped down defensively on Holdsclaw, holding the1999 rookie of the year to four points in the second half. NikkiMcCray, who averaged 15.5 points, was held scoreless.
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