Liberty must win battle in paint in Atlanta

The Liberty has defined itself as a second-half team. It flourished in the second half of the season, and up until Sunday's late-game loss to Atlanta in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, systematically stunned and overtook teams in the waning seconds of play.

But now the group that lived by the comeback finds itself facing its biggest challenge yet. The question is whether the Liberty has another improbable run left while playing on the road tonight against a team that, on Sunday, overmatched it in nearly every major category.

The Liberty's 81-75 loss to the Atlanta Dream in the first game of the best-of-three series snapped an 11-game win streak at the Garden. Despite some dynamic play in a second half in which the Liberty built a seven-point lead midway through the third quarter, Atlanta used its aggressive play and size advantage to rebound when it counted.

The Dream had 40 boards and scored 22 second-chance points, compared with the Liberty's 28 rebounds and seven second-chance points. In order to pull out a win in Game 2, the Liberty will need to neutralize forwards Sancho Lyttle and Erika de Souza and maintain control inside the paint. Atlanta scored 50 points in the key to the Liberty's 34.

Another concern is whether the Liberty's Janel McCarville will be able to play. McCarville sprained her left ankle before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and was still in pain before Game 1. Coach Anne Donovan said she was day to day, and, as of Sunday, unable to put significant weight on the ankle.

In the very likely chance that McCarville can't play, the Liberty will look to a bench that, last game, all but deserted it. The bench scored four points and three rebounds, led almost solely by Kia Vaughn (four points, two rebounds).

Despite the big undertaking, star Cappie Pondexter is all confidence. "I'm not nervous," she said. "I'm excited."

If the Liberty brings the series back to the Garden, she'll have plenty more to be excited about.