Final
Fever-Liberty Preview
Aug 16, 2010 - 8:15 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS WriterIndiana (21-10) at New York (19-11), 7:30 p.m. EDT
A franchise-record winning streak has transformed the New York Liberty from a .500 club into a contender for first place in the Eastern Conference.
A meeting with the East-leading Indiana Fever on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden could get the Liberty closer to the top.
New York (19-11) has won a team-record eight games in a row by an average of 10.4 points after beating Phoenix 107-69 Saturday, setting a franchise mark for points in a game.
"It's just been great basketball the second half of this season," said guard Cappie Pondexter, who had 28 points against the Mercury.
The Liberty have gone 12-2 since the All-Star break to clinch a playoff spot and move within 1 1/2 games of Indiana (21-10) for the East's top seed. A win Tuesday would be a boon to New York's hopes of claiming that spot, considering it holds a game in hand on the Fever and a 2-1 advantage in the season series.
The Liberty won the most recent matchup 82-72 at Indiana on Aug. 3. However, they've lost four in a row at home to the Fever, including an 84-81 defeat July 18.
New York has since won five in a row at MSG, and will play three of its remaining four games there.
Pondexter could make a difference down the stretch. She's second in the league with a career-high average of 21.4 points and had a season-high 40 against Indiana in July.
The Fever, the WNBA finalists last year, have put together a season high-tying five-game winning streak since losing to the Liberty earlier this month. They continued their run with a 79-66 win at Connecticut on Sunday.
"All we are focused on is the fact that we control our own destiny. We don't have to worry about somebody else helping us," coach Lin Dunn said. "We don't have to hope somebody beats somebody to help us.
"We are in the position that if we win our ballgames and take care of business, then we can win a championship. It's a great position to be in."
Tamika Catchings, Indiana's leader with 18.1 points per game, has spurred the recent winning streak with an average of 24.0 points after getting 26 with seven rebounds and seven assists Sunday.
The forward had 22 points in Indiana's last visit to New York.
- WNBA
INDIANA 57
NEW YORK 78 FINAL
Aug 17 9:35 PM - WNBA
INDIANA 21
NEW YORK 18 END, 1ST QTR
Aug 17 8:02 PM
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