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New York Liberty

New York Liberty Game Notes: Game #29 vs. Atlanta Dream - Tuesday, September 1 - 7 Pm

August 31, 2015 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
New York Liberty News Release


NEW YORK LIBERTY (20-8) vs. ATLANTA DREAM (12-17)

Tuesday, September 1 - Madison Square Garden - 7 PM

Broadcast: MSG Network

The New York Liberty will conclude its five-game season series against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. The Liberty has taken 3-of-4 from the Dream to clinch the series win for the second year in a row. New York has won both games against Atlanta at Madison Square Garden, most recently 78-67 on August 21. Angel McCoughtry was limited to just 13 points in that Liberty win, despite entering the game averaging 25.3 ppg against New York. Tina Charles is nearly averaging a double-double agains the Dream at 19.3 ppg and 9.5 rebounds per game.

PLAYOFFS! LIBERTY CLINCH 2015 WNBA PLAYOFF BERTH

With its 81-68 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on August 28, the Liberty secured a berth into the 2015 WNBA Playoffs.

New York qualifies for the postseason for the first time since 2012, ending a two-season drought.

It is the 13th all-time postseason berth in franchise history.

When New York hosts a playoff game later this month, it will be the first WNBA postseason game to be played at Madison Square Garden since 2010.

The Liberty has been to the WNBA finals four times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002)

New York's all-time playoff record is 24-31 (.436) and it has not won a playoff series since 2010.

MAKING A CASE FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Kiah Stokes is having one of the most impressive rookie seasons in the WNBA and is making a solid case for being considered the league's Rookie of the Year. In terms of total all-around impact and overall team success, it is tough to argue any first year player is more critical to team success than Stokes, who leads all rookies in blocks and rebounds per game and field goal percentage. With Stokes helping anchor the interior, the Liberty lead the league in points against and defensive field goal percentage, and is the toughest team to score against in the paint. She is coming off a 12 point, 10 rebound performance in a win at Connecticut on Saturday night.

Category STAT ROOKIE RANK LEAGUE RANK

Blocks Per Game 2.1 1 4

Rebounds Per Game 6.8 1 9

Field Goal Percentage .565 1 -

Minutes Per Game 25.3 2 38

Points Per Game 6.2 8 -

LAST TIME OUT - NEW YORK 80, CONNECTICUT 66

New York becomes the first team in the WNBA to reach 20 wins this season and the fastest to do so in franchise history.

The Liberty shot 71.4 percent (10-of-14) in the first quarter.

The Liberty entered the fourth quarter tied for the first time this season.

New York ended the game on a 19-5 run.

The Liberty has the best road record in the league, now 10-5 away from Madison Square Garden

New York shot a season-high 55.9 percent from the field.

Kiah Stokes had her 3rd double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

New York has now won the season series against the Sun, taking all three games the teams have played so far this year.

SEASON-HIGH FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE AGAINST THE SUN

The Liberty shot a season-best 55.9 percent from the field in its 80-66 win at Connecticut on August 29, combining to shoot 33-of-59 as a team. It is the fourth time this season New York has shot higher than 50 percent from the field and the Liberty is 4-0 in those games. All four of those occurrences have come over the last eight games of the year. For the season, New York is shooting .434 from the field, but over the last eight games that percentage jumps all the way up to .488.

MAGIC NUMBER FOR THE EAST NOW AT THREE

Now that the Liberty has clinched its first playoff berth since 2012, the focus shifts to gaining home court advantage in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. With six games remaining in the regular season. New York holds a three-game lead over the rest of the field in the east, making its magic number to clinch home court three. The Liberty is tied in the win column with Minnesota at 20, but has two fewer losses, so to guarantee the best record in the league New York must win five of its final six games, but one of those comes against the Lynx.

NEW YORK VS. ATLANTA 2015 SEASON SERIES

New York is 3-1 against Atlanta this season, most recently winning 78-67 on August 21 at Madison Square Garden.

Tina Charles is nearly averaging a double-double against the Dream, at 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

The Liberty defense has limited the Dream to just 72.0 ppg, well below its season average of 78.2 ppg. Twice, New York has held Atlanta under 70 points.

Angel McCoughtry is averaging 22.3 ppg in four games against New York this season, but had a season series low of 13 in the last meeting 10 days ago at The Garden.

New York has won the season series against the Dream for the second year in a row and is 21-11 all-time against Atlanta for a winning percentage of .656, its best against any WNBA franchise in its 19-year history.

Rookie guard Brittany Boyd is averaging well above her season average in scoring when it comes to facing Atlanta, where she ranks third on the team at 12.3 ppg. She has scored in double figures in three of the four games against the Dream this year.

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NEW YORK LIBERTY (20-8) vs. ATLANTA DREAM (12-17) Tuesday, September 1 - Madison Square Garden - 7 PM Broadcast: MSG Network

The New York Liberty will conclude its five-game season series against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. The Liberty has taken 3-of-4 from the Dream to clinch the series win for the second year in a row. New York has won both games against Atlanta at Madison Square Garden, most recently 78-67 on August 21. Angel McCoughtry was limited to just 13 points in that Liberty win, despite entering the game averaging 25.3 ppg against New York. Tina Charles is nearly averaging a double-double agains the Dream at 19.3 ppg and 9.5 rebounds per game.

PLAYOFFS! LIBERTY CLINCH 2015 WNBA PLAYOFF BERTH

* With its 81-68 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on August 28, the Liberty secured a berth into the 2015 WNBA Playoffs. * New York qualifies for the postseason for the first time since 2012, ending a two-season drought. * It is the 13th all-time postseason berth in franchise history. * When New York hosts a playoff game later this month, it will be the first WNBA postseason game to be played at Madison Square Garden since 2010. * The Liberty has been to the WNBA finals four times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002) * New York's all-time playoff record is 24-31 (.436) and it has not won a playoff series since 2010.

MAKING A CASE FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Kiah Stokes is having one of the most impressive rookie seasons in the WNBA and is making a solid case for being considered the league's Rookie of the Year. In terms of total all-around impact and overall team success, it is tough to argue any first year player is more critical to team success than Stokes, who leads all rookies in blocks and rebounds per game and field goal percentage. With Stokes helping anchor the interior, the Liberty lead the league in points against and defensive field goal percentage, and is the toughest team to score against in the paint. She is coming off a 12 point, 10 rebound performance in a win at Connecticut on Saturday night.

Category STAT ROOKIE RANK LEAGUE RANK

Blocks Per Game 2.1 1 4

Rebounds Per Game 6.8 1 9

Field Goal Percentage .565 1 -

Minutes Per Game 25.3 2 38

Points Per Game 6.2 8 -

LAST TIME OUT - NEW YORK 80, CONNECTICUT 66

* New York becomes the first team in the WNBA to reach 20 wins this season and the fastest to do so in franchise history. * The Liberty shot 71.4 percent (10-of-14) in the first quarter. * The Liberty entered the fourth quarter tied for the first time this season. * New York ended the game on a 19-5 run. * The Liberty has the best road record in the league, now 10-5 away from Madison Square Garden * New York shot a season-high 55.9 percent from the field. * Kiah Stokes had her 3rd double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. * New York has now won the season series against the Sun, taking all three games the teams have played so far this year.

SEASON-HIGH FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE AGAINST THE SUN

The Liberty shot a season-best 55.9 percent from the field in its 80-66 win at Connecticut on August 29, combining to shoot 33-of-59 as a team. It is the fourth time this season New York has shot higher than 50 percent from the field and the Liberty is 4-0 in those games. All four of those occurrences have come over the last eight games of the year. For the season, New York is shooting .434 from the field, but over the last eight games that percentage jumps all the way up to .488.

MAGIC NUMBER FOR THE EAST NOW AT THREE

Now that the Liberty has clinched its first playoff berth since 2012, the focus shifts to gaining home court advantage in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. With six games remaining in the regular season. New York holds a three-game lead over the rest of the field in the east, making its magic number to clinch home court three. The Liberty is tied in the win column with Minnesota at 20, but has two fewer losses, so to guarantee the best record in the league New York must win five of its final six games, but one of those comes against the Lynx.

NEW YORK VS. ATLANTA 2015 SEASON SERIES

* New York is 3-1 against Atlanta this season, most recently winning 78-67 on August 21 at Madison Square Garden. * Tina Charles is nearly averaging a double-double against the Dream, at 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. * The Liberty defense has limited the Dream to just 72.0 ppg, well below its season average of 78.2 ppg. Twice, New York has held Atlanta under 70 points. * Angel McCoughtry is averaging 22.3 ppg in four games against New York this season, but had a season series low of 13 in the last meeting 10 days ago at The Garden. * New York has won the season series against the Dream for the second year in a row and is 21-11 all-time against Atlanta for a winning percentage of .656, its best against any WNBA franchise in its 19-year history. * Rookie guard Brittany Boyd is averaging well above her season average in scoring when it comes to facing Atlanta, where she ranks third on the team at 12.3 ppg. She has scored in double figures in three of the four games against the Dream this year.

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