Pondexter scores 30 to lift Liberty to East finals

Cappie Pondexter's delighted, raucous scream could be seen, but not heard.

With a wild fist pump and an exultant yell that was lost in the Garden's deafening din, Pondexter's driving layup with 1:14 left in the game gave the Liberty its first lead in nearly two quarters. Moments later, as Essence Carson hugged the game ball between her body and the hardwood as time expired, it would give the Liberty its first ticket to the conference finals in two years.

Pondexter's layup turned into a three-point play, and, even when the Fever tied the game in the next possession, it became clear that this was the Liberty's game. Pondexter muscled through Indiana's defense again seconds later, giving the Liberty the two-point lead and the eventual 77-74 victory at the Garden.

The Liberty will take on the Atlanta Dream at the Garden in Game 1 of the best-of-three Eastern Conference finals Sunday night.

"All-star players step up," coach Anne Donovan said. "This is their time . . . This is their spotlight."

But while Pondexter, who led all scorers with 30 points, put on a dominating display in the final minutes, it was Kia Vaughn off the bench that provided a necessary spark. Vaughn scored a career-high 13 points and her layup with 3:05 left drew the Liberty to within 72-71.

Pondexter's driving layup with less than four minutes left cut the Fever's lead to 70-69; Ebony Hoffman hit both foul shots to provide Indiana with a three-point cushion with 3:22 left.

The Liberty trailed by as many as seven with 1:24 left in the third. Pondexter and Taj McWilliams-Franklin (six points, 11 rebounds) scored back-to-back layups to draw the Liberty within three to end the period.

Indiana was held to eight points in the fourth quarter. Indiana's Katie Douglas had a banner game with 24 points, shooting 8-for-13 from the field.

It was a game of runs for the Liberty, which suffered a big blow before the game. It had to sit center Janel McCarville (sprained left ankle). McCarville leads the team in rebounding and was a glaring absence in a battle that Donovan said before the game would likely be decided on the boards.

The injury led to more playing time for Vaughn, who picked up the slack with seven rebounds.

"I'm so happy for her," Donovan said. "With Janel not playing, we had to use her in that role. She surprised herself and I think she surprised Indiana."

What didn't surprise Indiana, no doubt, was the hard-fought battle.

"It's just grueling," Donovan said. "It's physical. No one is giving up anything easy."

Notes & quotes: Connecticut center Tina Charles, the unanimous choice for 2010 Rookie of the Year, was in attendance, along with the Knicks players Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari and Ronny Turiaf.