WNBA Liberty Beat Dream

New York Holds On For 89-86 Win

Jul 19, 2009 Mark Fontes

For the second night in a row, the New York Liberty take things down to the wire, but this time win.

Phew! Just one night removed from trailing by 18 in the second half and nearly pulling off a sensational comeback, it was the New York Liberty (5-8) who squandered a lead, and then hit overdrive late to hold on for a much-needed win at home against the Atlanta Dream.

Forward Shameka Christon's 3-point shot broke an 84-84 tie with just over 20 seconds to play. Then Atlanta (7-10) attempted a three, but missed. Yet the offensive rebound set up a Sancho Lyttle lay-up to pull to within one.

They then fouled New York twice to set up free throws. Christon made both, as well as ended the scoring at 89-86.

"We came out with so much energy," says Christon, who scored a career-high 32 points. "I think our lull was in the third quarter again! But, it says a lot about this team. We're playing on a back-to-back...and were so focused and determined to get the win, and that's what we did."

Win is something they've done in each of their meetings with Atlanta. The Liberty's victory against them Sunday boosts them to 3-0 vs. the Dream on the year, and 6-0 overall vs. the young expansion team.

At 5-8, it means 60 percent of New York's wins so far have been against Atlanta.

Shameka Vs. Chamique

On the court it was the Shameka-Chamique show. New York's Christon, aside from scoring 32, also passed her 2,000 point mark here in her sixth season. She also grabbed a team high 8 rebounds.

"It's great!" says Christon, in a much happier mood than 21 hours earlier, when her team dropped a one-point decision at Washington. "I try not to think about it, or press or anything like that. But I know my teammates...they look for me, and I just try to knock down shots. It's great that I got my 2,000 mark, but, I just try to get the win really."

For the Dream, New York native Chamique Holdsclaw was largely responsible for getting Atlanta out of a 20 point deficit in the third quarter. 15 of her 26 points came in the third period, a quarter in which Atlanta outscored New York 36-26.

But Atlanta couldn't quite finish.

"The bottom line is basketball is 40 minutes," says a dejected Holdsclaw. "We came out here, and we acted like we played yesterday. They're the team that's coming off a back-to-back. We just didn't have that intensity and fight in the first half."

The Dream find themselves still in fifth place in the Eastern Conference at 7-10.

Liberty On The Rise

New York now heads to Chicago to play the Sky for a one game road trip. They then return home to face Sacramento, pause briefly for the WNBA All Star Game on July 25, and then will host Phoenix on the 26th.

The copyright of the article WNBA Liberty Beat Dream in Basketball is owned by Mark Fontes. Permission to republish WNBA Liberty Beat Dream in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.