New York, N.Y. – SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 – The New York Liberty fell to the Washington Mystics 82-55 on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
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New York entered the game with home court advantage throughout the WNBA Playoffs already locked up, as it will be the top overall seed in the postseason for the first time in franchise history.
Avery Warley-Talbert scored a career-high 12 points to lead New York offensively, also grabbing six rebounds. Recently signed guard Erica Wheeler also scored in double figures, finishing with 10 points and an assist.
Due to Indiana’s win at Atlanta on Friday night, the Eastern Conference standings remain unchanged heading into the final weekend of the regular season, and as a result, New York’s first round playoff opponent still has yet to be determined.
The Fever currently lead the Mystics by one game for third place in the East with one to play, but the Mystics hold the tiebreaker, having won the season series 3-2. New York wraps up its regular season schedule at Indiana on Friday afternoon at 5 p.m., while the Mystics host Atlanta on Sunday at 4 p.m.
After trailing by six points at the end of the first quarter, the Liberty was able to draw within two midway through the second, but the Mystics ended the half on a big run, which continued into the first part of the third quarter, allowing Washington to break the game open.
The New York deficit was just two, 31-29, after Sugar Rodgers converted in the paint with 5:12 remaining in the first half. However, the Mystics ended the half on a 16-5 run to take a 47-34 lead into the locker room, then scored the first nine points of the second half, taking a 56-34 lead on a Stefanie Dolson jumper.
After shooting 7-of-10 from 3-point range in the first half, the Mystics settled at 63.2 percent for the game, nailing 12-of-19 attempts from long distance.
New York Liberty Postgame Notes
- Washington won the season series with New York 3-1.
- Avery Warley-Talbert scored a career-high 12 points and led the Liberty in scoring for the first time this season.
- Epiphanny Prince finished with 9 points, failing to scored in double figures for just the second time in 23 games.
- The Mystics outrebounded New York 38-29 and points in the paint were tied 22-22.
- In her second game with New York, Erica Wheeler scored 10 points.
- Washington’s 12 3-point field goals were the most against New York this season and the most since Tulsa hit 10 back on June 26.
- New York finished the regular season with a 12-5 record at Madison Square Garden.