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Liberty-Fever Preview

Aug 28, 2010 - 5:04 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

New York (22-12) at Indiana (21-13), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The New York Liberty snapped two lengthy losing streaks in their last visit to Conseco Fieldhouse. Now, they'll try to end the Indiana Fever's season.

The second-seeded Liberty look to sweep the best-of-three Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday night against a Fever team that has seen their late-season swoon extend into the postseason.

While the teams split four regular-season meetings, New York ended a seven-game losing streak to the Fever and 13-game skid in Indianapolis with an 82-72 win on Aug. 3. Nicole Powell had six 3-pointers and led the Liberty with 20 points.

New York heads back to Conseco Fieldhouse after an 85-73 victory in Game 1 Thursday. The Liberty won their ninth straight at Madison Square Garden behind a franchise playoff-record 28 points from MVP hopeful Cappie Pondexter, who also matched a Liberty postseason record with five 3s.

Essence Carson also provided a big boost, scoring nine of her playoff career-high 17 points during a 17-2 run in the fourth quarter, She started 64 of 68 games in her first two seasons, but has embraced a reserve role this year following the offseason acquisition of Powell.

"I said that the entire season that I'm going to be ready because one day your number will be called," Carson said. "No matter when it is, what game it is, whether its the championship game or if it's a game that pretty much doesn't mean too much. But this game means a lot and I was happy to be called upon."

While the Liberty look to advance to the East finals for the second time in three years and a matchup with fourth-seeded Atlanta, Indiana is trying to force a Game 3 on Wednesday at MSG.

After losing their final three regular-season games - a stretch that started with a 78-57 defeat to New York on Aug. 17 - the defending conference champion Fever were outrebounded 39-24 in the playoff opener. New York pulled down 15 offensive boards compared to seven by Indiana.

"There was a period when we missed layup and another layup and another and they came up and answered," Fever coach Lin Dunn said. "Their offensive rebounds finally broke our back. ... If we have any hope of beating this team at home we have to do a better job on the boards."

Fever forward Tamika Catchings had 18 points with seven rebounds and six assists in Game 1. She averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in New York's two visits to Indiana this year.

Pondexter, the reigning Eastern Conference player of the month, had 20.0 points with 5.0 assists and 6.5 rebounds in those matchups.

The last reigning Eastern conference champ to lose in the first round was Detroit in 2004 when New York won in three games.