By LENN ROBBINS
June 22, 2008
The roaring Garden crowd rose with less than two and one-half minutes left in today's Liberty game to witness a rare occurrence: a professional basketball team was about to score 100 points in a winning effort in the World's Most Famous Arena.
The Knicks last did it back in April when they edged the Charlotte Bobcats 109-107. The Liberty did it in emphatic, record-setting fashion today, thrashing the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury, 105-72.
It marked the first time in franchise history that the Liberty (6-5) broke the century mark.
Every player scored. Six players, including three off the bench got double figures led by Tiffany Jackson's 21. And the Liberty scored 38 baskets off 26 assists in an offensive masterpiece.
"This is what we can be,'' said point guard Loree Moore, who sparked the attack after missing the last five games with back spasms.
"We have a lot of numbers, two or three players at every position,'' she said. "We can really wear people down.''
The Mercury (4-7), which entered the game allowing 89 points per game, are coached by Paul Westhead disciple Corey Gaines. They hope to outgun opponents behind the lethal Big East combo of former UConn guard Diana Taurasi (21 points on 7-of-14 shooting) and former Rutgers star Cappie Pondexter (16 points on 4-of-16).
"It's a loss and we will see them again,'' Gaines said.
With 2:18 left Liberty rookie Erlana Larkins banked in a historic 8-foot jumper that gave New York a 100-66 lead. The crowd of 8,688 went bonkers.
Liberty coach Pat Coyle told the players in a timeout with 2:48 left and team stuck on 97 that the 100 would come. She didn't tell them the franchise had never hit the milestone.
"We pride ourselves on defense so when she said, 'Just keep playing your game and we'll get the 100, it was weird,''' Moore said. "One hundred. Wow.''
