Phillips Has Another Big Game for Liberty

The New York Liberty won for the ninth time in 10 games, defeating the Charlotte Sting, 66-56, Friday night before 7,485 at Charlotte.

Tari Phillips, a 6-foot-1 center, had another big game for the Eastern Conference-leading Liberty (16-10), scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Vickie Johnson had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Tamika Whitmore scored 13 points, as New York’s starting frontcourt outscored Charlotte’s, 43-9 and outrebounded them, 22-7.

Charlotte Smith led the Sting (7-19) with a career-high 17 points. Andrea Stinson was held to 13 points on six-for-15 shooting.

Neither team led by more than four points in the first half until a barrage of three-pointers by Smith and Stinson helped the Sting take a 28-20 lead.

The Liberty scored the final seven points of the half to make it 28-27 at halftime.

The Liberty scored 11 of the first 15 points in the second half to open a 38-32 advantage. Charlotte cut the lead to 57-54 with 2:35 remaining, but New York hit nine consecutive free throws down the stretch, including four by Phillips.

The Liberty finished 22 for 26 from the free-throw line.

Cleveland 80, Detroit 60--Backup Vicki Hall scored a career-high 19 points as the Rockers (14-11) beat the Shock (11-14) before 11,041 at Cleveland.

Hall entered the game when starting forward Mery Andrade suffered a contusion of the right shin 24 seconds into the game when she collided with Detroit’s Barbara Farris. Andrade returned with 13:06 remaining in the game.

Rookie Ann Wauters, the first overall pick in this year’s draft, had season highs of 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. The 19-year-old center from Belgium did not miss a shot, going six for six from the field, and making all three free throws.

Phoenix 65, Seattle 55--Brandy Reed scored 21 points and keyed a 10-0 run in the second half as the Mercury won before 8,787 at Seattle.

Tonya Edwards added 15 points as the Mercury (17-9) beat the Storm (4-22) for the second time in as many games this season.

Minnesota 68, Miami 44--Katie Smith made 10 of 13 shots, including four of four three-point shots, and scored 25 points as the Lynx beat the Sol before 8,622 at Minneapolis.

Smith has made a league-leading 75 three-pointers--one short of the league record with seven games remaining.

Minnesota (12-13) won its second straight game after breaking a franchise record eight-game losing streak on July 23. Miami (9-17) lost its third straight.

The Lynx failed to score during the first 5:22 of the game but trailed only 3-0.

No Miami player scored more than eight points.

Indiana 73, Portland 58--Kara Wolters, despite playing only 19 minutes because of foul trouble, lead the Fever (7-18) over the Fire (7-18) before 8,072 at Portland. The 6-foot-7 center, who picked up her fourth foul with 15:26 left and scored only four points in the second half, finished with 14.