Sports

Liberty’s win streak snapped

SAN ANTONIO — For a while, it looked like the Liberty were going to pick up their fourth consecutive victory — until they were undone by a disastrous fourth quarter.

Danielle Robinson had 21 points and the San Antonio Silver Stars outscored the Liberty 22-9 in the final quarter to earn a 77-66 victory over the Liberty on Tuesday. The loss snapped the Liberty’s three-game winning streak.

Cappie Pondexter scored 23 points to lead the Liberty (14-18), which maintained their one-game lead over Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Essence Carson had 11 points and Kara Braxton 10.

Shameka Christon added 17 points and Becky Hammon 12 for the playoff-bound San Antonio (20-12).

The Liberty shot 24 percent (4-for-17) from the field in the fourth and were outrebounded 12-5 in the quarter.

The Silver Stars closed the game on a 20-7 run, which included a last-second 3-pointer by Pondexter.

“They were hitting shots and clicking on all cylinders,” Braxton said. “We really could not contain the ball or stop them.”

Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said he was happy with his team’s defensive intensity during crunch time.

“What was exciting to me was the way we played defensively in the second half, and specifically, in the fourth quarter,” he said. “[It was] some of the best defense we have played all year against a team that is a good basketball team.”

Hammon’s 3-pointer gave San Antonio a 60-59 edge, its first since leading 18-16 with nine minutes left in the first half.

After a turnover by Nicole Powell, Christon made her fifth 3-pointer of the game to give San Antonio a 63-59 lead with six minutes left.

San Antonio took a 68-61 lead on Robinson’s free throw, which completed a 3-point play following a foul by Pondexter. Robinson scored on a fastbreak layup off a pass from Hammon, who stepped into a passing lane for a steal with 3 minutes left.

San Antonio also opened strongly, scoring the first nine points of the game on a 3-pointer by Christon and three straight baskets by Robinson.

“We needed a spark,” Robinson said. “We’ve kind of started games a little flat so I wanted to make sure that we didn’t. I wanted to make sure that I came out aggressive.”

It was the largest advantage either team would have in the first half.

Christon made two more 3s to extend San Antonio’s lead to 16-10 with 2 minutes left in the first. The Liberty scored the final two baskets of the quarter to pull within 16-14 entering the second.

“I’m a shooter and that’s why my role is for this team,” Christon said. “So whenever it is going down, it is a plus. I never really want to get discouraged. [Even if] the ball is not going in, I just have to keep shooting.”

Carson’s 3-pointer gave the Liberty their first lead at 19-18 with eight minutes left in the half. Pondexter’s steal and layup on San Antonio’s ensuing possession extended the lead to 21-18 and prompted a timeout.

Hammon’s first basket tied the game at 21 with seven minutes left.

Powell’s 3-pointer gave the Liberty a 29-24 lead.

Christon hit consecutive 3s to pull San Antonio within 29-27 and Robinson’s driving layup tied the game at 29 with four minutes left. The Liberty closed the first half on an 8-1 run keyed by a pair of baskets by Plenette Pierson to take a 37-32 lead.

Robinson hit a pair of baskets as San Antonio opened the second half on a 6-2 run to pull within 39-38.

The Liberty took their largest lead at 47-40 keyed by a pair of layups by Braxton, prompting a timeout by Hughes.

San Antonio responded with an 8-1 run to pull within 49-48 and leading to a timeout by Liberty coach John Whisenant.

Danielle Adams tied the game at 53 with a free throw to complete a three-point play after being fouled by Kia Vaughn.