2016 WNBA season scores: Fever rise to 4th spot with win over Liberty


The Indiana Fever rose to the upper echelon of the WNBA league standings after picking up an impressive 82-70 win over the New York Liberty on Thursday at the Madison Square Garden.

Coming into the game having lost their first two meetings against the Liberty, the Fever were far more fluid as a squad as they improved to 12-12 in the regular season, good for fourth spot in the overall league standings.

Lynetta Kizer notched a new career-high after scoring 21 points on 10-for-14 shooting. She also had four rebounds and a block while Marissa Coleman had 14 points off the bench including four triples. Erlana Larkins and Shenise Johnson each scored 10 points.

The Fever pulled away late in the first quarter after going with a smaller line-up which gave squad more space on offense. Coleman was inserted together with Briann January, Johnson, Larkins, and Tiffany Mitchell as the Fever used the space to open lanes and attack the Liberty with drives to the basket.

Johnson scored eight of her 10 in the first quarter alone, including two triples as the Fever went up 26-15.

Indiana had control of the game in the first half until Tina Charles returned to the floor. New York gave Charles post touches as the center took charge with baskets inside the paint. The Liberty also involved her in pick and roll plays which lured the Fever defense out.

Teams went back and forth in the middle quarters, before the Liberty took the 56-55 lead on a basket by Brittany Boyd. The Fever, however, would respond with back to back threes to end the third quarter holding a 61-58 lead.

Indiana then opened the final quarter on a 12-2 run, with eight coming from Coleman to extend the advantage up to 73-60.

Charles led the Liberty (18-8) with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists. Sugar Rodgers and Kiah Stokes each had 10 points.

Indiana had 24 assists and shot 38.9 percent from three-point area. New York shot only 20 percent from the same distance, and committed seven more turnovers than Indiana, 15-8.

Both teams would then stage a media blackout after the game as a response to the WNBA handing out fines.

Last night's scores

 Indiana Fever 82, New York Liberty 70

Comments

Post a Comment