Liberty & Mercury force Game 3 in first round action

Nicole Powell scored 19 points and Plenette Pierson had 15 as the New York Liberty beat the Indiana Fever, 87-72 to even the best-of-three Eastern Conference semifinals. Cappie Pondexter scored 14, Essence Carson had 12, and Kia Vaughn 10 for New York, which had 11 steals, blocked five shots, and scored 28 points off Indiana's 18 turnovers. The deciding Game 3 will be played Monday night in Indiana at 8 pm.




Candice Dupree scored a season-high 29 points as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Seattle Storm, 92-83 to even their Western Conference playoff series at a game apiece. Phoenix outshot, outrebounded and beat Seattle inside in recording just its second win in their last 12 games against the Storm dating to 2009. Game 3 this Monday night in Seattle at 10 pm will determine who will advance to the Western Conference Finals.