Liberty fall to Connecticut Sun in season opener, 78-73

NEW YORK Every time New York went ahead and stretched its lead, Connecticut came back and tied it. Then the Sun went ahead in the final minute and spoiled the Liberty's one-game homecoming to Madison Square Garden.

Asjha Jones made a tiebreaking jumper with 31 seconds remaining and the Sun went on to a 78-73 victory over the Liberty in the season opener for both teams Saturday.

Tina Charles had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead Connecticut. Allison Hightower scored 13 points, Jones finished with 12 and Renee Montgomery added 11.

"We came out with a lot of aggression," Charles said. "There were times we were down seven, but we were able to get it back. Coach (Mike Thibault) had different lineups out there and everybody just came together collectively and we handled ourselves well on the court."

Connecticut trailed by five early in the second quarter, then by nine in the final minute of the period, by seven at the end of the third. The Sun rallied to tie the score each time.

Connecticut, 15-2 at home last season, struggled to a 6-11 record on the road while failing to hold late leads. Earlier in the week, Thibault said the next step in his team's development was to play better in the fourth quarter. They did that in the opener.

"Just us coming back, that was maturity," said Charles, the 2010 rookie of the year. "Us playing together going on our third year, and that's just mental toughness not letting the game go, not getting down on ourselves, not pouting, just being real mature, and knowing we could get back."

Cappie Pondexter led New York with 19 points, Plenette Pierson had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Kara Braxton scored 13.

The Liberty were outscored 27-15 in the fourth quarter, outrebounded 9-5 and outshot 56 percent (10 for 18) to 43 percent (8 for 14). They had no steals and the Sun turned the ball over just once in the period.

"We got to play better. We got to improve from where we are tonight," New York coach John Whisenant said. "We got static (in the fourth quarter). ... We weren't efficient. Not efficient around executing our offense and we weren't getting turnovers from our defense."

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Liberty fall to Connecticut Sun in season opener, 78-73