NEW YORK – Late in the fourth quarter, Kara Lawson raised her hands to the heavens and let out a yell an instant after making a three-pointer.
A minute and a half later, Lawson's backcourt mate, Ticha Penicheiro, screamed after drilling an 18-foot jumper.
Both screams were emotional releases for a team that has struggled to find its identity in the early season. Both jumpers were important shots for a team that is trying to re-learn how to win; an oddity for an organization that has success as part of its DNA.
And perhaps the emotion and the shots salvaged a season.
The Monarchs topped the Liberty 70-63 in a Sunday matinee at Madison Square Garden. The Monarchs have won two of their last three games and improved to 3-4. The teams will conclude their season series June 28 at Arco Arena.
"Any win is good, but a road win is as good as it gets for any team," Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said.
The win was especially good because the Monarchs showed that they could close out a game. With her team leading 62-57 with 2:24 remaining, Lawson made her three from the left side of the arc to push the Monarchs' advantage to eight. The Liberty got two quick baskets from forwards Cathrine Kraayeveld and Shameka Christon to cut the lead to 61-57 with under a minute remaining, a prelude to Penicheiro's shot.
Penicheiro finished with a game-high 18 points. Lawson had 11.
"We've played well enough to win most of the games we've been in. But we haven't had that," Boucek said. "Today, they stepped up. Your stars have to be stars."
And while Penicheiro and Lawson took over in the fourth, the Monarchs dominated in the paint. Forwards Rebekkah Brunson (10 points, eight rebounds) and Nicole Powell (14 points, eight rebounds) and center Adrian Williams-Strong (11 points, nine rebounds) combined for 35 points and 25 rebounds. By comparison, New York's frontcourt players totaled 20 points and 18 rebounds.
"Our post players got the job done," Powell said.
The Liberty went on an 18-2 run midway through the first quarter to take a 19-11 lead. New York (3-4) ran and pressed the Monarchs all over the court, looking to run them out of the legendary venue.
But the Monarchs absorbed New York's best offensive flurry, then gradually turned it to a possession-by-possession game. Without having to worry about a dominant scorer, the Monarchs held the Liberty to 35 percent shooting from the field.
"Sacramento comes after you and guards you on every possession," Liberty coach Pat Coyle said. "They are long and athletic. We need to be disciplined enough to get the shots we want."
Christon said she felt as if the Liberty gave the game away.
"They came ready to play today, and I'm not sure if we did," said the fourth-year forward from Arkansas. "But me, personally, I'm going to take full responsibility (for the loss). I have to be better for my teammates. Not to take anything away from Sacramento – I think they're a great, experienced team – (but) we got shots and we just didn't knock them down."
