WNBA New York Liberty

New York Liberty Game Notes: Game #13 at Atlanta Dream

Published on June 21, 2016 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
New York Liberty News Release


New York Liberty (8-4) at Atlanta Dream (8-4)

Wednesday, June 22 - Philips Arena - 12 PM

Broadcast: MSG Network/NBATV

HEADLINES

- The Liberty erased a 4-point deficit with fewer than 25 seconds to play to come back and win at Indiana in overtime, 78-75 on Sunday afternoon. Sugar Rodgers nailed an off-balance 3-pointer with 22.1 remaining, then tied the game with a pair of free throws as New York extended its winning streak to four in a row and won at Indiana for the first time since 2013. Tina Charles posted her eighth double-double of the season with 26 points and 15 rebounds, and Tanisha Wright added 13 points with five assists.

- Tina Charles was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for a third time this season on Monday afternoon. She led the WNBA in scoring last week, pouring in an impressive 28.7 ppg, including a career-high 32 in a win at Connecticut.

- Kiah Stokes continued to maker her presence known as a candidate for Sixth Woman of the Year, hauling in a career-high 14 rebounds with eight points and two blocked shots in the win at Indiana. She is second in the league in blocks (2.2 bpg).

- The Liberty saw a late lead slip away in the first meeting with Atlanta, falling to the Dream 85-79 in overtime at Madison Square Garden. Tina Charles had 29 points and 10 boards to lead New York in that contest.

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

TINA CHARLES - JUNE 20

For the third time this season Tina Charles picked up Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors, this time after leading the Liberty to a 3-0 week while putting up incredible numbers across the board. In wins over Dallas, Connecticut, and Indiana, Charles led the WNBA in scoring with 28.7 ppg, including a career-high matching 32 points in the win at Connecticut.

STOKES 2016

Kiah Stokes is in the early running for 6th Woman and Defensive Player of the Year consideration thanks to her stellar play in the post so far this season. She is coming off a career-high 14 rebounds in the win at Indiana, also finishing with eight points and a pair of blocked shots. Stokes has improved on all of her numbers from an impressive rookie season, averaging 7.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 2.1 bpg, while shooting 63.5 percent from the field, all increases from 2015. Additionally she is sixth in the league in defensive win shares at 0.9. Coming off the bench she ranks second in the league in blocks and is sixth in rebounds per game.

BECOMING A COMPLETE PLAYER

Originally known as a volume 3-point shooter, Liberty guard Sugar Rodgers has shown that she can contribute in a myriad of ways. First the 3-point shooting, not only is she second in the league with 31 triples, but she is shooting at a high percentage, ranking sixth in the league at .431 beyond the arc. She is also getting to the line, third for the Liberty with 33 makes from the stripe, and is a also 34th in rebounds per game (4.5) and 16th with 1.3 steals per game. Her scoring average has nearly doubled from the 8.1 ppg she put in during the 2015 season.

DEFENSE FIRST

Once again the Liberty is hanging its hat on defensive effort, making life very difficult for opposing offenses. New York has limited 7-of-12 opponents, most recently Indiana on June 19, to under 36.0 percent shooting from the field, and the Liberty leads the league in defensive field goal percentage of .392 (the league average is .440).

BETTER NOT COME INSIDE

Last season the Liberty led the league in defense and played to its strength of impressive interior defense, a trait that has held true so far in 2016 as well. New York ranks first in the WNBA with an opponent field goal percentage of just .392, and teams are shooting a mere .488 (127-260) on shots inside of five feet against the New York, best in the league. The Liberty is the only team holding opponents under 50.0 percent from inside of 5-feet from the basket.

Check out the New York Liberty Statistics

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