Sports

LIBERTY SEEK TO END TWO-GAME SKID

Liberty coach Pat Coyle is surprised her team has lost two straight games since returning from the WNBA’s break for the Olympics. The Liberty did not have any players in Beijing, meaning the whole team was involved in practices.

“I thought we had 2½ weeks of good practice,” said Coyle, whose team looks to end its skid tonight against the Comets in Houston (8:30, MSG). “I think [the break] affected everyone. We just have to be better.”

The Liberty (15-12) lost at Detroit Friday night, 83-69, after suffering an embarrassing home loss to Chicago Thursday night. Sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, the Libs are still in good position to clinch a playoff berth for the ninth time in the franchise’s 12-year history. After tonight, the team plays four of its final six games at the Garden.

“We just need to take care of our business and whatever happens happens,” Coyle said. “Everyone understands we are in a playoff race and what we are playing for.”

Friday in Detroit, the Liberty were outscored by 17 points in the third quarter. This quarter has been trouble for the team all year. In the Libs’ 12 losses, they have been outscored eight times in the third quarter, tied three times and leading just once.

“I’m not really sure what it is. It’s not like we come out and try not to be good in the third quarter. We try to be good every quarter. But it is something that we have talked about and hopefully we can address it,” Coyle said.

The Comets (14-14), like the Liberty, have suffered from the Olympic hangover, losing their two games since the break after posting a five-game winning streakt. However, they have won eight games in a row at home.

In the previous meeting between the teams in June, the Libs scored an 81-73 win at the Garden.