The Date: Sunday, 9/4/2K11
The Locale: The Prudential Center, aka The Rock, Newark, New Jersey
Rookie All-Star Maya Moore scored 19 points and four other players tallied in double-digit figures, as the Minnesota Lynx crushed the New York Liberty, 86-68, in front of 8,247 fans in attendance. Plenette Pierson led New York with with 17 points and 8 rebounds in the loss. Liberty All-Star Cappie Pondexter had one of her worst offensive games in recent memory, scoring just 9 points, all from the free-throw line, and went 0-for-9 from the field in over 35 minutes of action. Cappie did however handed out a game-high 7 assists.
With the victory, Minnesota upped their record to 25-7, which is tops in the WNBA and will have the home-court advantage throughout the entire postseason which commences on Thursday, September 15. New York fell to 18-14, but have already clinched a playoff berth and can finish anywhere between second and fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings after they play their final regular season game against the current #2 seed in the East, the Connecticut Sun, on the road on Sunday afternoon, September 11 at 1pm EST.
~Other Notes~
*Former Liberty head coach Ann Donovan was in the arena taking in the game as a spectator and is still very close with the organiztion.
*Upon Lynx rookie and All-Star Maya Moore's introduction during pre-game, loud cheers echoed throughout The Rock. She is one super-talented, all-around basketball player and will win the Rookie of the Year Award for her amazing season.
*Newark Deputy Mayor Magarita Muniz addressed the fans before the game to show appreciation to the Liberty organization on their 1st full season playing at The Prudential Center while their real home, Madison Square Garden, undergoes a massive transformation project that will run until its completion in 2K13.
*I had the opportunity after the game to briefly interview Lynx players Seimone Augustus, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Candice Wiggins, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen. I LOVE me some Candi Wiggins! She's a well-spoken (Stanford grad), animated and gorgeous-looking sweetheart!
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