Second-half surge fuels Liberty past Shock

New York, NY, United States (4E Sports) – Plenette Pierson, Essence Carson, and Cappie Pondexter combined for 54 points and the New York Liberty pounded the Tulsa Shock, 91-74, Saturday at Prudential Center.

The Liberty capped their regular-season on a winning note, exacting revenge against the Shock.

New York, which lost to Tulsa 78-66 last Thursday, used better ball movement and dominant rebounding to rack up their 15th win in 34 games this season.

Tulsa started the game like a house on fire, leading the Liberty by as much as 12 points and eventually heading into the locker room with a commanding 50-40 lead at the break.

However, Tulsa’s scorching hot shooting fizzled out in the second half as the Liberty tightened up their perimeter and interior defense. New York also outscored Tulsa 24-9 in the third quarter.

The Liberty sustained strong shooting into the fourth period as they finally put the Shock away.

Ivory Latta finished with 16 points and 6 dimes off the bench for Tulsa, which ended their WNBA regular-season with a 9-24 record.

New York clinched the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, will take on the first-seeded Connecticut Sun in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.

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