The Liberty gave the defending WNBA champions a shock last night.
Shameka Christon had 16 points and a franchise playoff-record 15 rebounds to lead the Liberty to a surprising 73-51 victory over the Detroit Shock in Game 1 of their first-round Eastern Conference series at Madison Square Garden .
“It’s a playoff,” Christon said. “Everybody has to step it up a notch, that’s what my teammates and coaches told me to do.”
Janel McCarville and Cathrine Kraayeveld had 13 points apiece for the Liberty, who won six of their last nine games to earn the East’s fourth and final postseason berth. The Liberty had runs of 18-0 and 16-0 in the second half to pull away.
Liberty coach Pat Coyle said the team executed the game plan.
“We tried to limit their transition points, rebound with them, and take care of the ball ourselves,” Coyle said.
The series moves to the Palace of Auburn Hills for Game 2 tomorrow at 1 p.m. and Game 3, if necessary, on Tuesday night.
In other action, Diana Taurasi scored 22 points to lead the top-seeded Phoenix Mercury to a 101-84 victory over the Seattle Storm in Game 1 of their Western Conference series in Seattle.