TULSA, Okla. — The Liberty clinched the Eastern Conference’s fourth and final playoff berth minutes after dropping a 78-66 decision to the Shock Thursday night in Tulsa, Okla.
Kara Braxton, Plenette Pierson and Cappie Pondexter each scored 14 points to lead the Liberty (14-19), who wrapped up the playoff spot when Chicago lost to Atlanta, 75-66.
Tulsa’s Temeka Johnson put on a show in what could possibly be her last home game with the Shock. Johnson scored 26 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the field to lead the Shock to their third straight win and the franchise’s longest in three seasons in Tulsa.
With just two road games remaining and Johnson a free agent after the season, nothing seems certain for 2013. Asked if she wanted to return, Johnson said, “Of course.”
Essence Carson added 11 points for the Liberty.
“I thought we did a really good job on Cappie,” Shock coach Gary Kloppenburg said. “It started with Temeka on her. We also trapped her quite a bit. To hold her to 14, was a really great effort on our part.”
Tulsa made four 3-pointers early to grab a 22-14 advantage. The Shock used a 12-2 run over the final three minutes of the second quarter to take a 45-30 lead at halftime.
The teams meet again Saturday in Newark in the Liberty’s final game of the regular season.