Liberty hold off Sky

ROSEMONT, Ill. Cappie Pondexter scored a team-high 19 points, including a pair of key late free throws, and the LIberty held off a late Sky comeback for a 64-59 victory on Friday night.

The win was the second straight for the Liberty (6-9) and first in two tries over Chicago.

I knew they would make a run at home, Pondexter said. We showed we really wanted to win. We had to dig deep at the end and take control of the game. We had to settle down and take their momentum away.

Chicago (8-6) trailed 61-59 following Sylvia Fowles bank shot with 1:23 left, but missed a chance to tie on a turnover with 48 seconds to play.

Pondexter, fouled on an inbound pass with 19.3 seconds left, hit two free throws to open a four-point Liberty lead.

We just told them to win it on defense and rebounding, Liberty coach John Whisenant said. We had trouble scoring and I knew it would be that way. We missed some baskets that were easy, but so did they. They missed some putbacks. Ill take the way it was.

Essence Carson had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Leilani Mitchell had 12 points and Kara Braxton added 11 for the Liberty.

Fowles paced Chicago with 20 points, while Tamera Young added 16. The Sky shot 6 for 21 from the free-throw line and their 28.6 percent from the line was a franchise low.

We just threw it away, Fowles said. We had no sense of urgency. I dont know why. We missed free throws, 10 missed layups. Weve been talking about this since Day 1. The coaches do everything they need to do to prepare us for the game. Its so frustrating. This is not OK. I dont know what its going to take. Weve got to dig deep and win as a team.

Pondexter had seven first-quarter points including a 3-point play with 11.3 seconds left as the Liberty opened an 18-14 lead. Chicago hit just three of 11 free throws and went 5 for 14 from the field.

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Liberty hold off Sky