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Liberty ride big first quarter to victory over Sun

Aug 18, 2007 - 4:01 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Janel McCarville and Erin Thorn led a game-opening charge and the New York Liberty maintained control the rest of the way, cruising to a 74-66 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday.

McCarville and Thorn combined to score the game's first 14 points as the Liberty (15-18) opened a 23-18 lead after one quarter. McCarville hit a jumper and made a pair of layups, while Thorn sank two 3-pointers before capping the early spurt with a bank shot.

Cathrine Kraayeveld scored 18 points, Thorn added 13 and McCarville 12 for the Liberty, who shot 47 percent (26-of-55).

Shameka Christon had 11 points and eight rebounds and Tiffany Jackson pulled down eight boards for New York, which climbed into a tie with Washington (15-18) for the fourth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Liberty host the Chicago Sky in Sunday's season finale, while the Mystics visit the Sun.

Katie Douglas scored 22 points and Lindsay Whalen chipped in 19 for Connecticut (18-15), which will meet second-place Indiana in the first round of the playoffs.