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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tina Charles had 18 points and 14 rebounds, Sugar Rodgers hit a pair of free throws with 12.0 seconds left and the New York Liberty clinched the top seed in the East with a 75-71 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night.
In a matchup of the WNBA's top teams, the Liberty (22-9) earned the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2002 and tied a season record for wins the franchise set in 2010.
The Liberty also moved 1½ games ahead of the Lynx (21-11) in the race for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
New York took the lead for good during a 20-4 run midway through the third quarter. Minnesota pulled within 69-68 with 5:50 left but turned it over on five of its last eight possessions, including Rodgers' steal on the final possession to seal the win.
Maya Moore led the Lynx with 23 points.
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