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  Monday, Jul. 24 7:30pm ET
Liberty finally solve Mystic-al riddle
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The New York Liberty bucked the trend and came away with a win against the Washington Mystics.

Becky Hammon
Becky Hammon and the Liberty had lost five of their last six against Washington before Monday night's victory.

The Liberty, who dropped five of six to Washington -- including both meetings this season -- held the Mystrics to only seven points in the final seven minutes and won 78-64 Monday night.

The Liberty closed with a 24-7 run over the final 6:44.

"I was worried that we were going to run out of gas," coach Richie Adubato said of the Liberty, who have won eight of nine overall. "We had too much heart and too much determination."

Adubato said the keys to the Liberty's recent success are center Tari Phillips, acquired from Portland on the eve of the season-opener, and guard Becky Hammon, who missed only one of four 3-point shots.

"Bless his heart," said Phillips, who scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds before fouling out with 2:23 remaining and the Liberty leading, 66-59. "I totally enjoy playing underneath him. He's kind of taken me underneath his wing, and he just wants me to go out there and produce. All I ever asked for was a chance."

Vickie Johnson scored a season-high 22 points for the Liberty (15-10). She was 7-for-12 from the field and put the clamps on the Mystics' All-Star forward Chamique Holdsclaw, who finished with 15 points on 7-for-15 shooting.

New York's Tamika Whitmore added 16 points in front of 17,988 at the MCI Center.

"This game was really important," Phillips said. "It was a conference game, an away game, and a rival game. This was a game to make a statement that this is a different team."

Murriel Page led the Mystics (11-13) with a season-high 18 points, on 8-for-10 shooting, and 11 rebounds. Nikki McCray added 17 points and Vicky Bullett had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Crystal Robinson hit a 3-pointer with 6:03 remaining, that pulled New York into a 57-57 tie, and then made another with 4:40 left that gave the Liberty a 62-57 advantage.
 


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RECAPS
Charlotte 82
Indiana 78

Portland 61
Detroit 57

New York 78
Washington 64

Phoenix 67
Cleveland 57

AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 Chamique Holdsclaw feeds Murriel Page under the basket.
avi: 995 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Tamika Whitmore hits the turnaround jumper.
avi: 685 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1