| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Merlakia Jones wanted the ball with the game on
the line. She got it -- twice.
Jones misfired at the end of regulation but hit a 15-foot
jumper from the left baseline with 18.5 seconds left in overtime to
give the Cleveland Rockers a 66-65 victory over the New York
Liberty on Monday night.
"With time running down, I wanted the ball in my hands," Jones
said. "They gave me the baseline, so I went for it.
|  | | New York's Vickie Johnson was successful on this first-half play, but Merlakia Jones wasn't blocked out in the closing seconds Monday. |
"In that situation, everybody is a little chaotic, so I like to
get the ball and try to take advantage and make something happen."
The Rockers (8-7) snapped a two-game losing streak and surpassed
their victory total of last season, when they went 7-25.
New York (7-9) took a 65-62 lead in overtime when Tamika
Whitmore made an 18-footer with 2:30 to play and Vickie Johnson a
15-footer 57 seconds later.
Cleveland battled back, however, as Vicki Hall grabbed an
offensive rebound and scored with 1:02 to play to pull the Rockers
within a point.
Jones then spun free along the baseline and hit the game-winner.
Whitmore missed a 10-footer with three seconds remaining.
"This game was all about the rebounding," Rockers coach Dan
Hughes said. "When we rebound and take care of the ball, we find a
way to win."
Cleveland held a 19-8 offensive rebounding advantage.
Hall, who got more playing time because of a season-ending knee
injury to leading scorer Eva Nemcova, led Cleveland with a
career-high 17 points.
Nemcova, averaging 13.2 points in her fourth season with
Cleveland, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee
Saturday night in the Rockers' 75-67 loss in Los Angeles.
"This was a very tough way to lose," Liberty coach Richie
Adubato said. "The players that got playing time because Nemcova
was out played great.
"You have to worry about that. Always in the first game, they
step up. They know there's an immediate need for them."
Whitmore led New York with 17 points, including 12 in the second
half.
The game was tied 35-35 at halftime and remained close
throughout as both teams played tenacious defense and patient
offense.
Suzie McConnell Serio made a 3-pointer with 1:01 left in
regulation to put Cleveland ahead 59-57.
But New York's Tari Phillips beat the shot clock and tied it by
sinking a 12-foot jumper 30 seconds later.
Cleveland called a timeout to set up a final play. Jones missed
a 15-footer with five seconds left, Hall got the rebound and fired
a wild shot that missed badly.
Mery Andrade had a career-high 12 points for Cleveland with 3:03
left in the first half, but she took only two more shots and did
not score after halftime.
Johnson scored 10 and Becky Hammon eight for the Liberty in the
first half.
| |
ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
Rockers leading scorer Nemcova out for season
RECAPS
Cleveland 66
New York 65
Portland 68
Indiana 64
Washington 60
Seattle 55
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Merlakia Jones drives and hits the pretty jumper against New York.
avi: 699 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Vickie Johnson grabs the rebound and goes back up for the layup.
avi: 779 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
