Going into this weekend, the Liberty had lost four of five games, developed a reputation as a soft team that can be bullied and beaten up, and were facing the daunting task of playing the two best squads in the WNBA.
After back-to-back wins, including yesterday’s stunningly easy 71-61 dismantling of the Sacramento Monarchs at the Garden, the Liberty look like they may be in that group themselves.
They jumped to a 20-point lead against the Western Conference leaders, never let them closer than nine, and looked every bit a contender to make a deep playoff run.
“We just had to come together and really believe that, and now we’re starting to believe we’re one of the top teams in this league,” said guard Loree Moore (13 points, seven rebounds and five assists).
That’ll be easy to do with performances like this weekend’s. The Libs followed Friday’s come-from-behind 82-81 OT win at WNBA champ Detroit by throttling the team Detroit beat in the finals.
“This is a quality win,” said coach Pat Coyle, whose team fell behind 8-7, then closed the first quarter on a 25-4 run.
“The first half was some of the best ball we’ve played this season. We’re beginning to mature. We’ve made strides.”
They strode all over the Monarchs, who had smothered the Liberty into season-worsts in points (46), shooting (30.9) and turnovers on June 26. But yesterday, dead-eye guard Erin Thorn and emerging center Janel McCarville made the difference.
The Liberty lost four of the five straight games Thorn missed with a sprained right ankle. But they’ve won the back-to-back games since her return, improving to 9-4 with her in the lineup.
“Having Erin on the floor is experience,” Coyle said. “It’s confidence. It’s like having another coach on the floor. She just brings a calmness.”
Thorn (13 points, seven boards and five assists) came down on Ticha Penicheiro’s foot after hitting a jumper, hobbling off with 7:04 left. But she returned 2:19 later.
“We’ve grown,” said McCarville, who had nine points and six boards. “Earlier in the year we might’ve folded with them making runs.”
Liberty 71 Monarchs 61