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The Liberty broke an eight-game losing streak on Tuesday night, beating the Fever, 82-76, in Indianapolis. Tina Charles had 23 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks as she continued moving up in career WNBA ranks.
Charles moved into sixth on the WNBA’s career list for field goals made Tuesday and 15th for blocks. The 6’4” center moved into 10th in scoring during Monday’s game vs. the Mercury. The Liberty hadn’t won since July 5. The Liberty return to White Plains on Friday to face the Atlanta Dream.
Charles led the way in the first half with 21 points and nine rebounds to help New York take a 43-37 lead. The Liberty led by as many as 17 points in the first half. Indiana tied it at 61 in the second half but couldn’t take the lead.
Kia Nurse finished with 20 points and Bria Hartley scored 16 for New York (9-18). The game also marked the return of power forward Amanda Zuhai B from the league’s concussion protocol. She scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds in 22 minutes.
Rookie Teaira McCowan, who had destroyed the Liberty in their first encounter, did it again Tuesday, scoring a season-high 24 points and grabbing eight rebounds for Indiana (9-18). Erica Wheeler had five assists to set the Fever’s single-season record, passing Tamika Catchings’ mark of 143 in 2005.
The Liberty now have eight games left, five at the Westchester County Center. Joe Tsai, who bought the Liberty seven months ago, is expected to move the team to Barclays Center next season.