NY Liberty lose ground in chase for final playoff spot in Eastern Conference after 92-83 defeat against Chicago Sky

NEWS SPORT: Epiphanny Prince scored 30 points to lead the Chicago Sky to a 92-83 win over the New York Liberty on Friday night.

Tamera Young added 19 points for Chicago (11-16), which moved one-half game past New York for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Courtney Vandersloot had 12 points and Swin Cash added 10 points and seven rebounds. Prince, who also had five rebounds, scored 30 for the fourth time in 19 games this season.

Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points on 7-for-19 shooting to lead the Liberty (11-17). Plenette Pierson had 15 points, Kara Braxton added 13 and Essence Carson.

Chicago shot 32 for 63 (51 percent) from the field and made 20 of 21 free throws.

The Sky led throughout. New York twice cut the deficit to three points, the last occurring with 4:04 remaining in the third after Pondexter's 3-pointer. However, Ruth Riley's layup with 3:21 left in the third quarter pushed the Sky's advantage to 60-55. From that point, Chicago outscored New York 32-28.

New York appeared passive offensively, stymied by Chicago's half-court defense. The Liberty shot 43 percent from the field and committed seven of their 16 turnovers in the first half.

The Liberty trailed 42-29 with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter before using a 12-2 run to pull within three on Pierson's turnaround hook shot with less than 10 seconds remaining in the half.

Prince's driving layup with 1.4 seconds to go gave the Sky a 46-41 lead at the break.

The teams split the four-game season series.

Chicago was without guard Ticha Penicheiro (hamstring injury) and U.S. Olympic center Sylvia Fowles sat out the second half with a lower leg injury.