WNBA's Oldest Rivalry
New York beats L.A. 80-68.
The tallest building in Los Angeles is called the Liberty Tower. Just a block away from the Staples Center, one finds a nice restaurant called Liberty Grill.
It should come as no surprise then that the New York Liberty (8-7) should use a Los Angeles venue to pull off a surprise win after recording a season low point total a game earlier in Sacramento, and losing 7 of 9 entering Friday evening.
They defeat the Los Angeles Sparks (7-7) with an 80-68 torching at the Staples Center.
New York’s brightest-burning torch was their resident L.A. girl herself, guard Loree Moore. She contributed 20 points, 15 of them from 3-point country.
“This was a good one, it kind of sparked things up,” says Moore, who went 5-of-8 from downtown. “We just made sure we played and executed the way we know how.”
All five Liberty starters collected double-digit point sums. Following Moore were forward Shameka Christon, who drilled 13, and guard Ashley Battle who had 11. New York’s biggest behemoths blocked 9 shots to L.A.’s 1, with 6’5” forward Tiffany Jackson stuffing 4 of them and 6’4” forward Cathrine Kraayeveld blocking 3.
“I think we kind of stayed within ourselves and made sure we picked each other up,” Moore adds. “We were struggling, especially on the road.”
Their previous game versus the Sacramento Monarchs saw the Liberty shoot only 30.9 percent and score 46 points. Friday they shot 46.7 percent and scored 80.
“Tonight we made shots,” says Liberty head coach Pat Coyle. “The other night, we got the open looks, we just didn’t knock any shots down.”
A thinly-stretched lineup had not appeared to hurt the Sparks prior to Friday. But they remain without all-star center Taj McWilliams-Franklin (right hamstring strain) and starting guard Temeka Johnson (knee).
“Disappointed is not the word, you can’t print the word I feel for our team” says a livid L.A. Head Coach Michael Cooper about the Sparks’ performance. “They shot through us, they ran through us, they bulled through us, they kicked through us, they did whatever they wanted to on our defense…and I’m not happy about that.”
As if New York’s luck from Tuesday had somehow rubbed off on the Sparks, L.A. only shot 23 of 70 from the field Friday (32.9%). Guard Marta Fernandez did improve her Rookie-Of-The-Year chances, drilling 17 points. Center Christi Thomas came away with the most rebounds in the contest, 9.
Despite 25 Liberty fouls to the Sparks’ 18, L.A. just couldn’t seem to turn the game in their favor after tying it just before halftime.
“I usually take credit for losses…but this was the L.A. Sparks’ players loss,” adds Cooper. “This was totally unexpected; this was not our coaching staff’s loss.”
Los Angeles will rest Saturday, and get set for the Chicago Sky, who come to the Staples Center on Sunday.
New York’s Sunday features a trip to Seattle to play the Storm, which will complete their west coast road trip. The Sparks head to Seattle Tuesday.
“We face a good team in Seattle,” says Moore. “We just have to make sure we stay focused.”
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