MINNEAPOLIS -- 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 1 1/2 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.


Final

Liberty 75

(22-9, 11-5 away)

Lynx 71

(21-11, 12-4 home)





7:00PM,EDT,September 6,2015
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

1 2 3 4 T
NY 19 20 24 1275
MIN 21 22 16 1271
Top Performers
New York: T. Charles 18 Pts, 14 Reb, 2 Stl, 3 Blk
Minnesota: S. Fowles 19 Pts, 9 Reb, 1 Stl, 3 Blk








New York Liberty
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
Tina Charles, C368-191-11-3591402321+318
Carolyn Swords, C130-10-00-013400002+20
Epiphanny Prince, G368-141-21-121361012+318
Swin Cash, G171-40-20-000070012+82
Tanisha Wright, G257-102-30-003371013+1216
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
Essence Carson, F111-61-40-000000110+13
Avery Warley-Talbert, C30-00-00-000000011+50
Kiah Stokes, C282-30-00-013412101-24
Candice Wiggins, G141-41-10-012300033-73
Sugar Rodgers, G173-91-44-400011122-511
Rebecca Allen, FDNP KNEE INJURY
Brittany Boyd, GDNP WRIST INJURY
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF   PTS

31-707-176-810213122761217 75

44.3%41.2%75.0%
Fast break points:   11
Points in the paint:   28
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   13 (11)
+/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.
Minnesota Lynx
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
Rebekkah Brunson, F363-40-00-036931014-46
Maya Moore, F359-192-53-314522143-723
Sylvia Fowles, C357-120-05-518901333+319
Renee Montgomery, G385-102-42-411272021-214
Anna Cruz, G342-80-22-201150031-66
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF +/- PTS
Devereaux Peters, F150-30-10-00220010200
Tricia Liston, F71-21-10-000010000-43
Shae Kelley, FDNP COACH'S DECISION
Asjha Jones, FDNP COACH'S DECISION
Kalana Greene, GDNP COACH'S DECISION
Seimone Augustus, GDNP SPRAINED LEFT FOOT
Lindsay Whalen, GDNP STRAINED RIGHT ACHILLES TENDON
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF   PTS

27-585-1312-146222818651314 71

46.6%38.5%85.7%
Fast break points:   14
Points in the paint:   28
Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   15 (21)
+/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.
 Flagrant Fouls: None
 Technical Fouls: PLAYERS: None - TEAMS (def3sec): MINNESOTA (1) - COACHES: None
 Officials: Kurt Walker, Maj Forsberg, Thomas Nunez
 Attendance: 9,121
 Time of Game: 1:42