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Liberty-Sky Preview

Jul 21, 2009 - 6:01 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

New York (5-8) at Chicago (8-8), 12:30 p.m. EDT

Shameka Christon is averaging a career high in points while posting the best shooting percentages from the field, 3-point range and free-throw line of her six-year tenure in the WNBA.

That didn't stop coach Pat Coyle from tweaking her star forward's shot, and the New York Liberty have to be happy with the early returns on the adjustment.

After recording a career-high point total to lead her team to a victory, Christon looks to help the Liberty get back-to-back wins for the second time this season as they visit the Chicago Sky on Wednesday.

Christon scored 21 while going 7 for 11 from the field with five 3-pointers in a 68-67 loss at Washington on Saturday.

Despite another strong performance in Christon's career season, Coyle talked to her leading scorer about a small flaw with her footwork on the team's return trip to New York, and Christon responded with a career-high 32 points as New York (5-8) beat Atlanta 89-86 on Sunday.

Christon was 8 for 14 from the field, going 6 for 10 from 3-point range and 10 for 11 from the line. She made a deep 3-pointer to break a tie with 20.7 seconds remaining and sank two free throws with 4.9 left to cap the scoring.

"Coach showed me something with my feet that was a little off," said Christon, averaging a career-best 19.0 points and shooting 48.3 percent from the field - 9.0 percent better than her career mark.

"She said I'm a visual learner so she showed me some footage of me making shots and missing them. I felt good in shootaround today and it carried over."

Christon's career performance helped the Liberty bounce back after blowing an 18-point lead in the third quarter.

"I don't care how ugly they are. A win is a win," said Coyle, whose club hasn't won consecutive games since June 19 and 21. "Coming off a back-to-back in less than 24 hours, I thought our players did a terrific job."

Coyle hopes for another strong outing from Christon in Chicago, where the Sky (8-8) are 6-1 this season. The Liberty are 1-5 on the road.

Jia Perkins scored 29 to lead the Sky to an 85-75 home win over San Antonio on Sunday night. After the game, coach Steven Key said it would be a travesty if Perkins didn't make the roster for Saturday's All-Star game, and the sixth-year guard made the team the following day.

"She has so many threats - 3-pointers, rebounds and going to the rim," teammate Kristi Toliver said. "Every game she takes it as an opportunity to showcase what she has."

Christon, also named an All-Star for the first time Monday, scored 27 while going 10 for 18 from the field and 5 for 9 from 3-point range as New York won 69-62 on Sept. 12 in its only trip to Chicago last season. The Liberty won two of three against the Sky in 2008.