The Date: Sunday, 6/26/2K11
The Locale: Prudential Center, aka "The Rock," Newark, NJ
Cappie Pondexter scored a game-high 22 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, handed out 5 assists & recorded 3 steals on the defensive end in a 77-67 victory over their long-time rival L.A. Sparks. Essence Carson, (the team's 2nd most athletic player after CP23) contributed 18 points off the bench & Plenette Pierson scored 14 for the Liberty. NY went on a 12-0 run during the final 3:05 of the 2nd quarter to take a 41-33 halftime lead, spearheaded by the play of Pondexter on both ends of the floor. Super-talented All-Star Candace Parker led the Sparks with 16 points & 11 boards, but left the game midway through the 3rd quarter with a potentially serious right knee injury & did not return. Parker suffered the injury as she dribbling up the court & simultaneously banged knees with either her own teammate or a Liberty player. She was lying on the floor in agonizing pain for a few minutes & was able to get up on her feet to a nice ovation from the crowd, but was hobbling going into the locker room. L.A. was never able to fully recover & for most of the game were careless with the basketball, turning it over 20 times. With the win, the Liberty pulled even at the .500 mark at 4-4, while the Sparks fell to 4-3.
*Monday, 6/27/2K11: NY Liberty All-Star G Cappie Pondexter was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, 6/20 through Sunday, June 26.
*Other Notes: NY Liberty legend & current Louisiana Tech womens basketball head coach Teresa Weatherspoon & current player for the Chicago Sky Tamera Young (her team had the off-day) were in the building taking in the game. Also at The Rock were the newest members of the NY Knicks, draft picks Iman Shumpert & Josh Harrelson. I got the opportunity to briefly chat with them & ask a few questions. Shumpert was celebrating his birthday as well as supporting his friend & fellow Georgia Tech alum, NY Liberty rookie Alex Montgomery. 7,625 fans were in attendance. (Liberty & Sparks fans) NBA perennial All-Star Kobe Bryant's dad Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant is in his 1st season on the Sparks' bench as an assistant to head coach Jennifer Gillom.
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