Sky lose seventh straight

Cappie Pondexter scored 25 points and Plenette Pierson added 21 as the New York Liberty beat the Sky 77-67 Tuesday night.

The Liberty (8-13) saw an 18-point second half lead trimmed to six early in the fourth quarter, then rebuilt a double-digit advantage and maintained it the rest of the way. New York pulled one-half game behind Chicago for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Sylvia Fowles scored 18 points, Shay Murphy had 16 and Epiphanny Prince added 10 for the Sky (8-12), who lost their seventh straight and 11th in 12.

Prince, playing in her third game since returning from a foot injury, was carried off the court with 4:51 to play after rolling her right ankle. She didn't return, but was seen standing courtside through the final minutes.

Fowles and Cash had six points apiece as Chicago led for all but the opening seconds on the way to a 21-16 after one quarter. Pierson paced New York with eight points.

Pondexter scored back-to-back buckets over a 21-second span late in the second quarter to give the Liberty their first lead since the opening minute. It was part of an 13-0 run that helped New York to a 40-32 halftime lead. Pondexter had eight points in the period.

The Liberty more than doubled the lead in the third quarter behind 12 points from Pondexter. New York led 61-43 with 1:23 remaining before Chicago pulled within 12 entering the final period.

New York had lost four of five entering the game, the third meeting of the season with Chicago. The Liberty have now won two of three meetings.

Fowles' five field goals gave her 808 for her Sky career, tying her with Candice Dupree for the franchise record.