Liberty plays defending WNBA champ Lynx tight but falls in home opener

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The Liberty is still in search of what the Minnesota Lynx claimed last postseason and three of the six postseasons before that — first prize in the WNBA.

On paper, the opening tipoff of the Liberty’s home schedule against the Lynx on Friday night at Westchester County Center looked like a good early measuring stick. But the Liberty, which has posted the best record in the Eastern Conference three years running, showed up a little short.

Actually, a lot short. Four important pieces were missing, including three guards.

But it turned out to be a good measuring stick after all; the Liberty nearly won despite being shorthanded.

Ultimately, Maya Moore nailed the go-ahead three-pointer with 19.5 seconds left. Seimone Augustus scored 21 points, Moore had 20 and Minnesota won, 78-72, to drop the Liberty to 0-2.

“We’re definitely disappointed,” said Tina Charles, who led the Liberty with 18 points and 12 rebounds. “We had Minnesota.”

Guards Epiphanny Prince (concussion) and Brittany Boyd (Achilles) have missed the first two games. First-year Liberty coach Katie Smith said there’s no timetable for their return. Guard Sugar Rodgers played in the loss at Chicago but sat out this one with a sprained left knee. Smith called it “sore” and said she’s day-to-day.

Center Kia Vaughn missed both games but has fulfilled her club commitments in Turkey and is expected back for Tuesday night’s game here against Dallas. “I think we know we have the right pieces to be competitive,” Smith said.

The Liberty led by one in the closing minute, but Sylvia Fowles made two free throws to give the Lynx a 71-70 lead with 34.2 seconds left. Charles banked in an 8-foot runner with 23.5 seconds remaining to give the Liberty the lead, but Moore hit her three-pointer to put the Lynx up 74-72. “Obviously, that’s why she is who she is,” Smith said.

Kia Nurse missed a jumper, Fowles hit more two free throws and Danielle Robinson made two to set the final score.

Minnesota (2-1) had led by five at halftime and by six early in the third quarter, but the Liberty went on a 12-2 run to go ahead. Nurse (14 points) hit two three-pointers in the burst.

Nurse delivered another three for a 70-66 lead with 1:39 left in the fourth, but Augustus countered with a three to set up the tense final minute.

“We can be a tough matchup for anybody,” Nurse said. “This was a really good battle.”

With the team up for sale, 15 of the Liberty’s 17 regular-season home games will be played at the County Center instead of Madison Square Garden. “Great energy, intimate, rowdy,” Smith said. “It’s a very cozy place that’s great for basketball.”