Mystics Fall Short in New York
Team Can't Deliver a Happy Homecoming for Coach Adubato: Liberty 61, Mystics 58
New York Liberty guard Vickie Johnson fights for a rebound with Washington Mystics' Alana Beard (20) and Charlotte Smith-Taylor (0) during the second half Sunday.
(Bill Kostroun - AP)
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Monday, June 6, 2005
NEW YORK, June 5 -- Becky Hammon scored eight points in the final 3 minutes 5 seconds to lead New York to a 61-58 victory Sunday over Washington.
Hammon and Shameka Christon scored 13 points apiece, Vickie Johnson had 11 and Crystal Robinson added 10 points and nine rebounds to lead the Liberty (2-3).
DeLisha Milton-Jones had a season-high 21 points, Alana Beard scored 12 and Temeka Johnson added 10 for the Mystics (2-4).
Charlotte Smith-Taylor hit a three-pointer for the Mystics to tie the score at 50 with 3:27 remaining. But Hammon hit a three-pointer from the left corner 22 seconds later and then made two free throws to push New York's lead back up to five with 2:15 left.
Laurie Koehn pulled the Mystics within 59-58 with 18 seconds left before Robinson hit a pair of free throws to push New York's lead to three.
Washington missed three chances to score in the final eight seconds. After Beard drove to the basket and missed a layup, Milton-Jones got the rebound but missed her put-back. The ball was knocked to Coco Miller, who found Koehn on the perimeter. But her three-pointer bounced high off the rim and time ran out on the Mystics.
The Liberty's win spoiled Washington Coach Richie Adubato's return to New York. Adubato was fired as Liberty coach last July after 5 1/2 seasons, leading the team to three WNBA Finals appearances.
"Coming back here is always a great experience for me because I have some fond memories. There is no place like Madison Square Garden to coach and play basketball," Adubato said.
After shooting poorly at the start, New York finished at 40 percent (20 for 50) from the field. Washington, shooting 46 percent entering the game, made just 36 percent (20 for 56).
"The major reason we lost was because of our lack of execution," Milton-Jones said. "We did some things very uncharacteristic of what Richie wanted us to do."
Washington led 31-24 at halftime, closing the period on a 22-9 run over the final 8:38.
