Pierson scores 20 as Liberty wins

Plenette Pierson scored 20 points, Leilani Mitchell sank four three-pointers -- all in the final period -- and the visiting Liberty held off the Atlanta Dream, 85-75, last night.

Cappie Pondexter had 16 points and Nicole Powell added 13 for the Liberty, which solidified its hold on third in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta fell a half-game behind Chicago in the race for the conference's fourth and final playoff spot.

Angel McCoughtry led the Dream with 24 points. Lindsey Harding added 14 with nine assists. Atlanta, the defending conference champion, has lost two straight after a five-game winning streak.

Mitchell opened the final period with two three-pointers -- her first two field goals of the game. She made another three, barely beating the shot clock, to push the lead to 79-72, before her fourth trey gave her 12 points in the quarter.

McCoughtry, Atlanta's only All-Star, did not start for the second straight game. She came off the bench to lead Atlanta with 36 points in a 99-92 loss at Connecticut on Sunday, giving her more than 30 points in three of her last four games.

McCoughtry entered the game with 2:48 left in the first quarter and had a three-point play about a minute later. She had seven straight points for Atlanta in the second period.

A three-pointer by Pondexter extended the Liberty's lead to 10 points at 56-46 midway through the third. Atlanta scored six the next eight points and trailed 65-61 entering the final period. -- AP