CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Down nine points with just over three
minutes to play, the New York Liberty came up with an impressive
defensive effort and beat the Charlotte Sting 61-57 in the opening
game of WNBA's Eastern Conference finals.
|  | | Teresa Weatherspoon, right, celebrates the win with teammates Tamika Whitmore, center, and Mactabene Amachree. |
The Liberty closed Friday night's game with a 13-0 run.
"We executed down the stretch to perfection," New York coach
Richie Adubato said.
With the Liberty trailing 57-48, Teresa Weatherspoon and Crystal
Robinson hit consecutive 3-pointers and Sue Wicks made two free
throws with 1:40 left to get them within one. Vickie Johnson then
made two free throws with 1:15 left to give New York the lead for
good.
Charlotte Smith of the Sting missed a 5-footer from the right
baseline with eight seconds left that could have tied the opener of
the best-of-three series. Weatherspoon sealed it with two free
throws with five seconds left.
Charlotte didn't score over the game's final 3:24.
"The last three minutes they put the pressure on us,"
Charlotte guard Andrea Stinson said. "We lost our composure."
New York's pressure defense forced the Sting into four
turnovers, including a 10-second violation, in the decisive run.
"We never felt we were down and out," Weatherspoon said.
"It's just a matter of really wanting something and wanting it bad
enough."
The Liberty could reach the WNBA Finals for the third straight
year with a victory in Game 2 on Sunday in New York.
Tari Phillips scored 14 points to lead the Liberty, while
Johnson added 11 points and six steals. Robinson had 11 points and
Weatherspoon scored 10.
Dawn Staley had 14 points, only two after halftime, and
committed six turnovers for Charlotte. Tammy Sutton-Brown and
Stinson each added 12 points.
"You really have to play this game for 40 minutes," Staley
said. "We let this game away, but we don't think this series is
over."
Stinson, who scored 20 or more points in each of the Sting's
three games against New York in the regular season, was just
4-of-10 from the field.
The physical game featured numerous collisions and rugged inside
play, with the teams combining for 34 turnovers.
The Liberty went on a 13-2 run, capped a 3-pointer by Johnson,
to take a 39-34 lead with 13:43 left. Sting coach Anne Donovan then
inserted backup center Clarisse Machanguana into the lineup, and
she responded with two baskets, a blocked shot, an assist and drew
an offensive foul as the Sting rallied to take a 48-44 lead with
7:30 to go. Machanguana's steal and ensuing fast break layup gave
Charlotte a 57-48 lead with 3:24 left.
"I don't think we thought we had it in the bag," Donovan said. "I think at that point New York picked up their emotion, their pressure and their energy level and we didn't match it."
Both teams got off to slow starts. The Liberty missed 10 of
their first 13 shots, while Charlotte was 1-for-7 during the same
six-minute span.
Weatherspoon's 3-pointer finished an 8-2 run to give New York a
14-8 lead. The Sting responded with a 7-0 spurt during which
Robinson was called for a technical foul.
Staley's 3-pointer from the right corner with 46 seconds left
gave Charlotte its largest first-half lead, 29-24. Charlotte led
30-26 at halftime behind Staley's 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
The Liberty shot just 35.5 percent in the first half and were
outrebounded 17-10. Phillips was just 3-of-8 from the field in the
first 20 minutes and committed two fouls.
"We came out in the second half and were able to knock down
some tough shots," Robinson said. "When this team plays defense,
we get some easy baskets."
The crowd of 12,843 was Charlotte's first sellout since opening night.
The Sting were swept by the Liberty in their only other
conference finals appearance in 1999.
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ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
New York team page
Charlotte team page
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Crystal Robinson leads the Liberty surge past the Sting.
avi: 1102 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
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Dawn Staley dribble-penetrates and makes the nice no-look pass to Tammy Sutton-Brown.
avi: 1151 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
Cable Modem
With under a minute left, the Sting could not capitalize on a golden scoring opportunity.
avi: 1564 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
Cable Modem
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