Pondexter leads Liberty past Fever, 87-72

NEWARK -- Cappie Pondexter knew what was at stake yesterday at the Prudential Center.

A Game 1 loss to the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Eastern Conference semifinals put the Liberty's playoff run in jeopardy, and Pondexter was not ready to go down without a fight.

"I really wanted to force a Game 3," she said. "I didn't want to end the season and get ready to go overseas."

So leave it to the veteran to kickstart the Liberty's offense when it needed a boost.

Pondexter's offensive spark in the second quarter helped stave off elimination as the Liberty defeated the Fever 87-72 in the second game of the best-of-three series. The former WNBA Finals MVP scored 14 points to go with five rebounds and five assists.

The Liberty had five players score in double-digits. Nicole Powell led the Liberty with 19 points, while Plenette Pierson scored 15. Essence Carson contributed 12, and Kia Vaughn -- who was honored before the game for winning the WNBA's Most Improved Player Award -- added 10.

Unlike Game 1, the Liberty kept it close in the first quarter, trailing 23-20 thanks to 11 points from Powell and a late three-pointer by Leilani Mitchell.

Pondexter scored 12 of her 14 points in the second quarter, waking up the Prudential Center crowd en route to a 20-8 Liberty run and a 51-40 halftime lead.

"I was more aggressive," Pondexter said. "We were down. We needed that spark, and I know the team goes as I go."

Meanwhile, the Liberty defense held strong as Powell and Pierson limited Indiana star forward Tamika Catchings to two points.

"Our team did a good job on her," Powell said. "But she's a great player, and she's going to come back."

Liberty coach John Whisenant praised the work of both Powell and Pondexter.

"Cappie's our star," Whisenant said. "She causes teams to pay so much attention to her that she leaves open players, and Nicole benefitted from that."

With the win, the Liberty will play in a deciding Game 3 in Indiana tomorrow night. While Pondexter hopes to take the Liberty to the Eastern Conference Finals, she stopped short of guaranteeing a victory in the ever-tough Conseco Fieldhouse.

"I'm ready to fight for a victory," Pondexter said.