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Sun-Liberty Preview

Jun 26, 2010 - 9:55 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Connecticut (9-4) at New York (5-7), 4:00 p.m. EDT

As Connecticut Sun rookie Tina Charles continues to dominate the WNBA, the New York Liberty can only watch their Eastern Conference rivals with a sense of what could have been.

The league's leading rebounder looks for a fifth straight double-double Sunday afternoon in her first game at Madison Square Garden as the Sun visit the struggling Liberty.

Charles was the top overall pick in this year's draft by Connecticut (9-4). The selection originally belonged to New York (5-7) before it was traded twice to land into the hands of the Sun.

The former UConn center has transformed a team that finished in sixth place in 2009 - one spot above the last-place Liberty - into an immediate contender. She's averaging 16.3 points and 12.3 rebounds, and her 10 double-doubles lead the WNBA.

Charles has been even better over a 3-1 stretch for Connecticut, averaging 20.1 points and 17.5 rebounds. She scored 19 and grabbed a season-high 23 rebounds in an 82-79 win over Phoenix on Friday, finishing a rebound shy of the WNBA record of 24 set by Chamique Holdsclaw in 2003.

"Tina was sensational," coach Mike Thibault said.

New York, meanwhile, is sorely lacking in inside play. The Liberty rely on a guard-oriented attack, and are shooting a league-best 40.3 percent from the 3-point arc.

While building a team around perimeter play has New York mired in last place in the Eastern Conference, the Liberty rode a tremendous shooting display in Friday's 92-78 victory at Tulsa. They made a season-high 14 3-pointers, with unheralded guard Leilani Mitchell making six for 20 points - both career highs.

"I think teams think they can leave her alone and not be concerned with her because of her size, and she's a great shooter - one of the best shooters in the league," coach Anne Donovan said. "It was important tonight."

Mitchell matched a WNBA record with four 3-pointers in the first quarter to help the Liberty open a double-digit lead they never relinquished. She added her final two in the third quarter as New York stretched its lead to 25.

"My shot felt good," Mitchell said. "Cappie (Pondexter) and Nicole (Powell) did a good job driving and they have to help, to respect those players because they're great players, and it left me open."

Pondexter is among the league leaders with 19.8 points per game, but her worst effort came in a 75-68 loss at Connecticut on June 4. She scored a season-low eight points on 3-of-14 shooting as New York shot 36.8 percent.

The Sun have won four of five meetings since New York eliminated them from the playoffs in 2008.