Pondexter leads Liberty over Shock
New York Liberty's Cappie Pondexter dribbles around Tulsa Shock's Tiffany Jackson. (June 23, 2011) Credit: AP
TULSA -- Cappie Pondexter surprised a spectator after scoring 23 points and dishing 10 assists to lift the Liberty to a 94-82 win yesterday over the Tulsa Shock.
She handed over her orange Nike shoes to a Tulsa ballboy.
"He was excited," Pondexter said. "He had never seen shoes like that. Before the game, he asked me if he could have them. I thought why not."
Pondexter was pressed into point guard duty in the third period with starter Leilani Mitchell in foul trouble and rookie Sydney Colson sidelined with a knee injury.
"We really don't like to have Cappie bring the ball up," said Liberty coach John Whisenant, an Oklahoma native.
She got help on the inside from center Kia Vaughn, who finished with a season-high 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Liberty (3-4) snapped a four-game skid. Vaughn shot 12-for-14 from the field, contributing to the Liberty's 54 points in the paint.
"She had a good day," Whisenant said. "[The low post] is where the game is won. We lost our post players from a year ago and this was a great opportunity for Kia."
Former Shock forward Plenette Pierson added 14 points and four rebounds before fouling out. Liberty guard Essence Carson added 12 points off the bench and Nicole Powell had 10.
Rookie Elizabeth Cambage led Tulsa (1-7) with 22 points. The 6-8 Cambage shot 8-for-9 from the field. Fellow rookie Kayla Pedersen was 5 of 8 and finished with 18 points.
Ivory Latta and Tiffany Jackson added 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Tulsa, which trailed 44-32 at the half. The Shock rallied behind nine consecutive points from Cambage, closing to 58-53.
A BOK Center crowd of 4,682 got excited after Tiffany Jackson's jumper brought Tulsa within 76-75 with just under five minutes left. But the Liberty closed the game on an 18-7 run.
Shock coach Nolan Richardson said the team dug a hole early, but tried to battle back.
"When we got within three points we didn't come up with the defensive rebound," he said. "Not only did we not come up with it, they got the stick back and broke our momentum.'' -- AP
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