by Dream-Liberty Preview
By ALAN FERGUSON
The New York Liberty faltered in their attempt to claim their best start in nine years when they couldn’t hold on to a late lead.
That usually hasn’t proved an issue for the Liberty in matchups against the Atlanta Dream.
New York seeks its eighth win in nine meetings Tuesday and its sixth consecutive home victory in the series.
The Liberty (2-1) blew an eight-point lead in the final 1:08 of regulation Saturday en route to a 79-72 overtime loss to visiting Los Angeles. Tina Charles had 17 points and 16 rebounds, but her team ultimately couldn’t overcome a 33.8-percent shooting performance.
“We didn’t execute down the stretch. We didn’t do what we’re supposed to do,” coach Bill Laimbeer said.
The Liberty will next take on a team they beat in four of five meetings last season, including three at home. New York earned three of those wins by at least nine points before needing overtime for a 80-75 victory in the final matchup against the Dream on Sept. 1.
Shoni Schimmel (Umatilla) will return to the team that drafted her in the 2014 WNBA draft. After a good rookie campaign, Schimmel has yet to match her rookie year numbers in points and playing time.
Atlanta (2-1) has split its first two road games and needed an extra period to secure a 73-63 victory over San Antonio in its season opener May 14. The Dream rallied for an 87-81 win against Chicago in their home debut Sunday, and Angel McCoughtry provided 21 points after tallying a relatively tepid 15 in each of the first two games.
Layshia Clarendon had 12 of her 15 points in the second half and pulled down a career-best eight rebounds. The guard is averaging 15.3 points in the first three games, 8.6 more than in her final season with Indiana.
McCoughtry led all scorers with 22.8 points per game in last season’s series, but Atlanta shot just 38.1 percent in the five meetings. Charles paced New York with an 18.8-point average in the series, and scored 25 in a 78-67 home victory Aug. 21.
Sugar Rodgers matched her former career high with 23 points in the overtime win in September. She topped that with 24 in a 79-71 victory over Dallas on Sunday and is averaging 18.7 in the first three games, 10.6 more than in 2015.
Charles had 24 points and 11 rebounds in each of the Liberty’s first two games this season.
