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WNBA New York Liberty

New York Liberty Fall to Atlanta Dream in Preseason Action at MSG, 85-72

May 27, 2015 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
New York Liberty News Release


NEW YORK -- Despite a balanced scoring effort from its rookie and veteran players, the New York Liberty fell to the Atlanta Dream in preseason action at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday afternoon, 85-72.

The Liberty welcomed a crowd of 14,530 for School Day, presented by Indigo Rein, and at halftime, Traciana Graves, founder of the Project Bully Free Zone and the #SaySomethingBeautifulCampaign, delivered an anti-bullying message to all of the children in attendance.

New York was strong out of the gate, leading by as many as seven points in the first quarter as Kiah Stokes, Essence Carson and Tanisha Wright each buried a pair of buckets. However, the Liberty turned the ball over nine times that period, enabling Atlanta to end on a 12-4 run.

A spurt of eight unanswered points in the second quarter, capped off by a Sugar Rodgers fast-break layup with 6:21 left in the first half, resulted in a 32-27 Liberty lead, but Atlanta would go up by as many as seven, and by five at the half after Carson fed Rebecca Allen for an impressive finish moments before the buzzer sounded.

The Dream stretched their lead to double digits in the third quarter, moving in front 50-39 on an Erika DeSouza hook shot.

Late in the fourth, New York strung together its biggest run of the game, going on a 14-0 spurt over just 3:32 to pull within 11 late in the action.

A pair of Tina Charles jumpers sparked the offense, and a 20-foot jumper from Carson make it 78-64. Rodgers closed out the run with a 3-point play, but the Liberty were never able to cut the lead down to single digits.

Charles led four New York players in double figures with 12 points. Allen (11), Rodgers (11) and Carson (10) rounded out the top offensive performers, while Stokes narrowly missed out on what would have been her second double-double of the preseason, finishing with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

Angel McCoughtry and Erica Wheeler each finished with 13 points to pace Atlanta, and Wheeler shot 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

New York will have one more preseason game before returning to Madison Square Garden to host the Atlanta Dream in the regular season opener next Friday night.

The Liberty will travel to Minneapolis, Minn., to face the Minnesota Lynx on Monday, June 1, at 8 p.m. (ET). The regular season officially tips off next Friday, June 5, as the Atlanta Dream return to MSG. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

NOTES

* Rookie Kiah Stokes, who is now averaging 10.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in the preseason, also had a game-high four blocked shots while logging a game-high 27:59. * Tanisha Wright led the Liberty with five assists. * Sugar Rodgers and Rebecca Allen both came off the bench to score in double figures. * New York shot 0-for-8 from 3-point range while Atlanta shot 7-of-21 (.333). * Atlanta center Erika DeSouza had a double-double in 20:06 with 12 points and 10 rebounds. * The Dream held a 45-41 edge on the glass, which included 20 offensive rebounds and an 18-10 advantage in second-chance scoring. * Rebecca Allen has scored in double figures in both preseason games for New York, averaging 10.5 ppg while shooting 50.0 percent (9-of-18) from the floor. * Despite winning the turnover battle 21-13, Atlanta only outscored New York 18-17 with those extra opportunities.

QUOTES

New York Liberty Head Coach Bill Laimbeer

On the new team identity

"We've changed our entire roster from two years ago. We only have one player left and that's [Essence] Carson. We made a decision to go in a different direction. We wanted to go younger and bring in energy players. We wanted to just get a different attitude and culture of where this New York franchise was going. We wanted to bring in players that fans could identify for the long term -- high energy players and skilled players. There are going to be here for five or six years growing up and hopefully the fan base will grow with them. This will encourage them and help elevate their game and that was our plan. So far I think we've accomplished putting this team together that way. Now, we just have to go out and come together as a unit to win basketball games."

New York Liberty Center Tina Charles

On the team's younger players

"I was happy for them. A lot of people don't really get the opportunity to say they have played at Madison Square Garden. So people that were here for our training camp, I am happy for them that they got that experience. But again, I think everyone played with great effort."

On team chemistry and team bonding

"I think every day in practice has been very productive. I think the players are very responsive to the culture, what they want out of us and what they expect from each and every single one of us individually. And having Tanisha [Wright] here to start being a leader and being vocal, I think that is a big change for us this year."

New York Liberty Guard Essence Carson

On learning in the preseason

"That is what preseason is for; it's about teaching the younger players and learning some things about the league. It tests to see what you are strong in, what shots you can take, know what kind of passes you can make and probably shouldn't make. It is a part of the growing process and sometimes growing pains."

Atlanta Dream Head Coach Michael Cooper

On overall performance

"We finally found our rhythm. We've had our lumps but our team's intact. Now we get a chance to see ourselves on video, make some adjustments and prepare for the season opener against the New York Liberty."

On defense

"Your offense will come and go but the two things that will always be staple for that are rebounds and defense. I thought we did well in that area."

Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry

On today's win

"It was a good game. Our girls played very well and our bench posted productive points. We came to win."

On Atlanta's next game

"It's early - everyone's still learning each other but we're going to prove our team can play."

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