GREENBURGH, N.Y. – MAY 30, 2015 – Guard Sugar Rodgers knocked down five 3-pointers and led five players in double figures with a game-high 22 points as the New York Liberty topped the China Olympic Team, 100-42, in a scrimmage at MSG Training Center on Saturday afternoon.
The scrimmage was open to Liberty season ticket holders, who were also treated to a postgame barbecue and meet and greet with the players, coaches and front office staff.
Led by center Tina Charles, the Liberty jumped out to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter, with Charles scoring six of her 12 points during the opening period. New York used a run of 16 unanswered, capped off by back-to-back triples from Candice Wiggins and Swin Cash, to take control.
Following a low scoring second period, which ended with New York leading 35-19 at the half, the Libs erupted for 38 third-quarter points, resulting in a 78-31 lead through 30 minutes of action.
Rodgers scored eight in the third, burying a pair of 3-pointers, while Essence Carson chipped in seven points, also connecting on a long-range shot. For the game, New York shot 10-of-16 (.625) from 3-point range with four different players hitting at least one triple.
As good as Rodgers was in the third, she really started to heat up in the fourth, hitting all four of her attempts from the floor including three 3-pointers.
The Liberty outscored China 27-11 over the final 10 minutes. Rookie guard Brittany Boyd chipped in seven points in the period to go along with three assists; she finished with 12 points, five dimes and a couple of steals.
Rebecca Allen, 12 points with a pair of 3-pointers, Tina Charles, 12 points and Carson, 12 points rounded out New York’s double-digit scorer’s.
For the game, the Liberty shot 53.1 percent from the floor and had 18 assists on 34 made baskets. Avery Warley-Talbert was the leading rebounder with six, grabbing three on each end of the floor, to go along with nine points.
New York will play one final exhibition contest this Monday night, June 1, when it travels to Minneapolis, Minn., to face the Lynx. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. (ET) at the Target Center.