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Friday, Jun. 30 7:30pm ET
Phillips scores team-record 30 points | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
NEW YORK (AP) -- It took 14 games, an expansion opponent and a season-high 30 points from Tari Phillips for the New York Liberty to put together their first winning streak of the season. Phillips made a layup with 1.5 seconds remaining as the Liberty rallied from 18 points down to beat the Indiana Fever 72-70 on Friday night. Phillips' 3-pointer over 6-foot-7 Kara Wolters at the top of the key tied it at 70 with 19.2 seconds left. "I didn't know Tari Phillips had a 3-point shot," said Wolters, who played against Phillips in the ABL. "Unfortunately, I learned the hard way." After Indiana's Stephanie McCarty threw an inbounds pass out of bounds, the Liberty worked the ball into Phillips, who made a finger-roll layup to finish 13-for-19 from the field. Rita Williams' 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell short. Becky Hammon had 15 points and Crystal Robinson added 12 for the Liberty (7-7), who dropped their first two games of the season and alternated wins and losses in the next 10 before defeating Phoenix on Wednesday. "We kept fighting and pushing, and we gave ourselves a chance to win a tough game," Hammon said. Phillips had 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double as the Liberty reached .500 for first time this season. "Tari can make the three, she's about 50 percent," New York coach Richie Adubato said. "We knew Wolters wouldn't come out on her." Wolters had 16 points for the Fever (3-10), who lost their sixth consecutive game. Williams added 14 points for Indiana, which made eight 3-pointers to tie a season high. "It just came down to inexperience at the end of the game," Indiana coach Anne Donovan said. "We played very hard and very well for most of that game. "Kara did a good job on a very mobile post in Tari Phillips. She was able to take her outside and drive on her." Trailing by 11, New York went on a 10-2 run behind five points by Hammon to close to 66-63 with 2:35 left. Sue Wicks made two free throws, but Wolters countered with a layup as the shot clock expired for a 68-65 lead with 1:25 remaining. Robinson's running layup brought New York within 68-67 with a minute left. McCarty then fed a bounce pass to Wolters for a layup and a 70-67 advantage with 35 seconds remaining. Indiana shot 54 percent from the field, including 6-for-11 from 3-point range, to lead 40-25 at halftime. New York played without starting guard Vickie Johnson, who went home to attend to her ill mother. | ALSO SEE WNBA Scoreboard RECAPS Orlando 66 Miami 63
New York 72
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