The Libertys goal for the second half of the season is to win 11 of their remaining games. They got off to a good start in their return from the WNBAs Olympic break.

Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points to lead the Liberty to a 79-66 victory over the first-place Connecticut Sun on Thursday night.

Plenette Pierson, returning after missing the New Yorks last eight games before the hiatus due to a left knee strain, had 16 points to help the Liberty (7-12) snap a three-game skid.

If we win 11 games we give ourselves a chance to make a playoff push, Pondexter said. Its attainable. Right now we got 10 to go. I really feel we have a chance to win some games on the road.

The Liberty, who have 15 games remaining, play their next five on the road starting with a rematch against Connecticut on Saturday night. They then close with seven of their last 10 at home.

Renee Montgomery scored 16 points, and Allison Hightower and Mistie Mims added 12 each for the Sun (15-5), who snapped a five-game winning streak.

We struggled tonight, Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. We shot terrible in the second half and we turned it over.

Tina Charles, who helped lead the United States to a gold medal at the London Games, had just four points and 12 rebounds, while fellow Olympian Asjha Jones sat out due to a strained left Achilles tendon an injury she was dealing with before the break.

Connecticut dropped to 8-2 on the road and had its lead over second-place Indiana in the Eastern Conference cut to three games.

While the Olympic break helped teams like the Liberty get healthy and refreshed, Thibault believes it disrupted the Suns momentum.

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Liberty return from Olympic break with win over Sun