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Liberty “B” Team Leads The Way Over San Antonio

(Photo by Karen King - Double G Media)

(Photo by Karen King – Double G Media)

 

It was the bench this time that broke the game open. In a game that was low scoring in the first half, the New York Liberty (15-6), led by Amanda Zahui B’s 14 points off the bench, defeated the San Antonio Stars (5-15) last night at Madison Square Garden 75-65.

The bench was the story of the night with 38 points tallied led by the fast-improving Amanda Zahui B who has shown the potential of a total game, a solid long-range jumper, muscle in the post, and defensive tenacity in rebounding and shot-blocking. She is often paired with the other bigs Carolyn Swords but more often with Kiah Stokes making the frontline both huge and athletic.

“We got her for a reason,” Laimbeer said. “She’s has the whole package and you saw what she can do tonight.”

Brittney Boyd also showed all the variations of the scoop shot you can imagine and was instrumental in harassing the Star’s quick guards which got them back into the game. Boyd’s speed broke open a close game and her ability to find Stokes in cutting motion has become a thing of beauty. Shavonte Zellous has become a versatile performer off the bench (10 points) and a very vocal one resembling now the player that gave the Liberty fits in Indiana.

“Trust them (the bench) a little more and they’ll come together as a second unit,” Laimbeer pointed out. “We tell them if they get it together and expand the lead or hold it then they’ll get more minutes as a unit.”

But that didn’t mean the veterans disappeared. To win three straight games, a veteran presence is always involved. Tanisha Wright ran the offense well with very timely plays at key junctures as did Tina Charles, who had a subpar first half but still scored crucial baskets and with her ability to pass, which is often overlooked, helped gain the Liberty another wire-to-wire win, their third in 2016. “It’s just to get my teammates involved and let them have confidence in themselves and passing the ball out,” Charles explained.

What can be said about Sugar Rodgers. Her starting position at shooting guard has more than been justified. She continues to hit three-point daggers and is the best in the WNBA at it. Carolyn Swords, who doesn’t have to score to be the starting battleship here, was as active offensively as we have seen all season scoring eight points and matching her rebounding best day with eleven.

A well-balanced attack is what championship basketball is all about. Four players in double-digits will do it. New York will next play at the Garden Wednesday morning at 11am on Camp Day against the Atlanta Dream.

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