ROUNDUP
Mystics Start Slow, Are Routed by Liberty
Liberty 79, Mystics 60
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Friday, May 23, 2008; Page E03
After a forgettable season opener, the New York Liberty bounced back with strong performances all around.
Shameka Christon and Cathrine Kraayeveld scored 17 points each to help the Liberty cruise to a 79-60 win over the Washington Mystics last night in New York.
"We worked really hard the last three days in practice," Christon said. "We weren't really satisfied with the last game we played."
New York (1-1) was coming off a 77-63 loss to Connecticut on Sunday in which the Liberty fell behind by 18 in the third quarter and was outrebounded by 17. New York showed more energy from the opening tip against the Mystics, getting 11 offensive rebounds and scoring 12 second-chance points in the first half.
"We're a high-energy team and we have to be aggressive from the start," Christon said.
After starting 0 for 7 on three-pointers against the Sun, the Liberty made four in the first quarter against Washington and finished 7 for 16 in the game.
New York used runs of 14-0 and 9-1 to take a 21-point halftime lead. The Liberty shot 46 percent for the game and outrebounded Washington, 37-34.
Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Alana Beard added 20 points for the Mystics (0-2), who won all three of their preseason games.
"We can't make ourselves get in a hole and then try to play out of it," McWilliams-Franklin said. "We have to play hard every minute.
"New York made some great shots. They're not slouches."
· SKY 87, MONARCHS 77: Armintie Price scored a career-high 22 points to lead Chicago in its home opener. Price, last season's rookie of the year, added four assists and three steals.
Candice Dupree had 22 points, 4 assists and 3 steals for the Sky (1-1). Rebekkah Brunson scored 16 points for Sacramento (1-2), which committed 21 turnovers.
· STORM 87, MERCURY 83: Lauren Jackson scored 30 points to rally Seattle from a 20-point deficit in Phoenix. The Storm (3-0) trailed by 20 in the first half, 15 at halftime and six entering the last quarter. Diana Taurasi scored 23 points for the defending WNBA champions, who fell to 0-3.
