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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — Tina Charles and the New York Liberty see almost every game as a must-win after digging themselves a massive hole in the first half of the season.
Charles scored 21 points, and Brittany Boyd added 14 points and 10 assists to help the New York Liberty rout the Chicago Sky 107-84 on Sunday.
"We know that every game that we play from here on out is an elimination game," Charles said. "Our mindset has to be it's a one-and-done. This is the playoffs for us. That has to be our mindset if we want to make a playoff push."
New York matched the franchise record for points in a game set in 2010 against Phoenix and crossed the 100-point mark for the first time since last season. The Liberty shot a season-best 61 percent from the field.
"We're definitely building momentum for ourselves as individuals and as a team. We're making strides. Everyone was all in on this win," Charles said.
The Liberty (7-14), who finished third in the league last season, won consecutive games for only the second time this season. New York outscored Chicago 26-8 in the third quarter to blow open a tight game. Leading 55-49 early in the third, the Liberty scored 10 straight capped by four consecutive points by Kia Vaughn.
Chicago could never recover.
"The third quarter is very volatile that can go a lot of different ways," Chicago coach Amber Stocks said. "Our inability to come out on our toes was the determining factor in the game."
Boyd got her first start of the season and helped New York build a 53-47 halftime lead. She had nine points, five assists and three steals in the opening 20 minutes. The young guard found out in practice the other day shed be starting.
"I knew that it was important for us to get a good start this game and I tried to do what I could," Boyd said.
Courtney Vandersloot had 15 points and eight assists to lead Chicago (7-15), which has dropped six of its past seven games.
TIP-INS:
Sky: Vandersloot leads the league in assists averaging 7.7 a game. ... Chicago was missing Jamierra Faulkner (ACL) and Astou Ndour (sprained ankle).
Liberty: Marissa Coleman was partaking in pregame drills in warmups. She's been sidelined for a few weeks with a right ankle sprain. ... The Liberty scored 100 points for the first time since cracking that mark against Dallas last season on June 16.
UP NEXT:
Sky: Host Seattle in a daytime game on Wednesday.
Liberty: Head to Dallas to play the Wings on Tuesday.
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