NY Liberty Advances to WNBA Finals

N E W  Y O R K, Aug. 22, 2000 -- There is a familiar foe waiting for the New YorkLiberty in the WNBA Finals.

Tamika Whitmore scored 19 points and New York nursed a largelead to beat the Cleveland Rockers 81-67 Monday night. The Libertywill meet the three-time champion Houston Comets in thebest-of-three finals.

“We were very proud of ourselves because of what we had to gothrough the entire season with nobody believing in us,” captainTeresa Weatherspoon said. “We’re very happy with what we’veaccomplished, but we haven’t accomplished anything yet — ourultimate goal.”

A Familiar Matchup

The Comets, the only champion in the league’s four-year history,beat New York in the one-game final in 1997 and again last year inthe last game of a three-game series. Houston swept Los Angeles towin the West.

“We were ready last year, but we just fell short,” saidWeatherspoon, who hit a half-court game-winning shot at the buzzerto force a decisive game in the 1999 finals. “We have thatopportunity this time and I believe that we can really takeadvantage.”

The Comets and Liberty split two regular season games, with eachteam winning at home. The best-of-three series opens Thursday nightat Madison Square Garden, where the Liberty have won 13 straight.Game 2 and Game 3, if necessary, will be played in Houston.

“We know Houston very well,” Liberty coach Richie Adubatosaid. “They have tremendous talent and I think we will have toplay as good as we’ve played all year to beat them.”

Liberty Dominated Early

Tari Phillips and Crystal Robinson combined for 18 points duringa 30-2 run as the Liberty took control early. In Sunday’s secondgame of the Eastern Conference finals, New York jumped out to a24-7 lead after a 19-0 run, but had to hold on for a five-pointvictory.

“We knew that they could make a comeback,” Weatherspoon said.“We didn’t want to come out and have the same second half that wehad yesterday.”

After New York’s Becky Hammon and Cleveland’s Suzie McConnellSerio traded 3-pointers to open the scoring, Phillips scored 10points and Robinson eight as the Liberty took a 33-5 lead at 11:08.

“Basketball is made up of a game of runs and the team that isable to stop the runs is the team that wins,” Whitmore said. “Ithink they let our run go a little too long and they got in a holethey couldn’t dig themselves out.”

Vickie Johnson, playing on a sore right ankle she injuredSunday, added 14 points and 10 assists.

Rockers Couldn’t Overcome Deficit

McConnell Serio had 13 points in her final game. The 34-year-oldmother of four announced that she would retire following theseason. She left with 1:10 remaining and received hugs from hercoaches and teammates as the crowd gave her a large ovation.

“I was disappointed that we didn’t make it to the finals,”McConnell Serio said. “That was my dream of ending my career inthe WNBA championship games. I was very proud of this team. Withthe slow start that we had in the first half, we never quit.”

Merlakia Jones also had 13 points for the Rockers.

Chasity Melvin, Cleveland’s third-leading scorer in theplayoffs, picked up four fouls in the first eight minutes and hadthree points.

Cleveland, which won the series opener at home, rallied for thesecond straight game but again couldn’t overcome the deficit.

The Rockers trailed 46-27 at halftime and scored the first sixpoints of the second half to get within 46-33 with 17:04 left. ButWhitmore and Johnson scored four points each during a 10-0 run asNew York extended the lead to 56-33 at 14:12.

McConnell Serio hit a 3-pointer with 5:42 remaining to make it67-52. Rushia Brown followed with a layup and McConnell Serio madeanother jumper to cut it to 67-56 with 5:07 left.

“It was fun in the second half, scrambling on defense and justtaking quick shots,” said McConnell Serio, who hit a 3-pointer tomake it 69-59 with 2:59 left. “Just digging deep and trying tomake it happen.”

Hammon scored six points in the final three minutes as New Yorkclosed out the victory, punctuated by confetti and fireworks.