NBA

Liberty’s offensive woes costly in loss to Sparks

Tina Charles scored 20 points for the Liberty, which have dropped two straight games after a successful homestand during which they won four of five.

The most recent loss was Friday night’s 68-54 loss to the Sparks.

“You’re not going to beat any team in this league scoring 54 points,” Charles said.

Cappie Pondexter was held scoreless for the second time this season. She played only 18 minutes and missed all five of her shots. Coach Bill Laimbeer said after the game that Pondexter was injured in the loss to San Antonio on Wednesday.

“We didn’t have the firepower offensive wise. Cappie wasn’t able to go,” he said. “Our offensive execution was poor and it showed in the stat sheet.”
Pondexter said she was frustrated after the game, but didn’t want to talk about her injury.

“Didn’t have it tonight,” she said. “It’s frustrating, not for myself, but for my team. They need my presence. Wasn’t able to get it done.”

The game was tied at 29 midway through the second quarter when Los Angeles closed the half with a 13-4 run. Nneka Ogwumike got the spurt started with a steal and layup. Alana Beard had five points during the burst.

Los Angeles (8-11) extended the lead to 48-38 in the third quarter before the Liberty rallied behind Charles. She scored eight points during a 12-4 run that brought the Liberty within 52-50 with 1:48 left in the period. That’s as close as they got.

Los Angeles scored the final four points of the quarter and then held New York to just two points in the first 7 minutes of the fourth, outscoring the Liberty 12-2 to put the game away.

The game marked the Liberty (7-13) debut for Swin Cash, who was acquired on Wednesday for Delisha Milton-Jones. The move reunited Cash with Laimbeer, who coached her for six years for in Detroit.

Cash entered the game for the first time late in the first quarter. She scored her first basket in the second quarter and finished the game with four points in 13 minutes.