Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Liberty finally put end to Shock losing streak

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

Becky Hammon had 10 of her 12 points in the second half, helping the New York Liberty end a five-game losing streak against the defending WNBA champion Detroit Shock with a 64-52 victory Wednesday night in New York.

Crystal Robinson and Tari Phillips had 13 points apiece as all five Liberty starters scored in double figures. Vickie Johnson added 11 points and Elena Baranova missed getting her third straight double-double, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Cheryl Ford, last season’s rookie of the year, had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Shock before fouling out with 3:20 remaining.

New York beat Detroit for the first time since June 9, 2002, and limited the Shock to just 18 points in the second half on 6-for-27 shooting (22.2 percent).

Trailing 34-33 at halftime, the Liberty went on a 16-6 run to take a nine-point lead 6 minutes into the second half. Hammon had eight points during that stretch.

New York’s lead was at least seven the rest of the way, and reached 15, at 64-59, on Johnson’s 16-foot jumper with 1:32 remaining.

Detroit scored the game’s first five points for their biggest lead of the game, before the Liberty scored seven straight points to take their first lead.

The score was tied eight times in the first half, and New York took it’s biggest lead of the period at 29-22 on Robinson’s layup with just over 5 minutes left.

Silver Stars 56, Lynx 44: At San Antonio, Marie Ferdinand scored 12 of her 17 points in the second half, and Margo Dydek added 15 points to lead San Antonio to a victory over Minnesota.

Minnesota’s 44 points was a franchise low, and a record low total for a San Antonio opponent.

The 7-foot-2 Dydek, a starter last year who is now a reserve, finished with nine blocks, and Adrienne Goodson had nine rebounds for San Antonio.

Ohlde paced Minnesota with 14 points and nine rebounds.