Toliver, Mystics stun Libs
Kristi Toliver scored 32 points, hitting a WNBA playoff-record nine 3-pointers, to lead the visiting Washington Mystics to an 82-68 victory over the Liberty on Sunday. The Mystics will face the top-seeded Lynx, with Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series in Minnesota on Tuesday night.
Washington found itself down 13 points in the first half before rallying to 41-35 at the break. Then Toliver scored 16 points in the third quarter, hitting all four of her 3-pointers, the fourth one giving the Mystics a 57-46 advantage with 2:48 left. Her eighth 3-pointer broke the WNBA record for 3-pointers in a playoff game.
The Libs could never recover. They were led by Tina Charles, who had 18 points. It’s the second consecutive season the Liberty was a threeseed and lost its first postseason game.
“It’s disappointing that we’re not getting over the hump,” Charles said. “You wish you could have boxed out or made that extra pass or not made that turnover. You always have those thoughts.”
l Brittney Griner notched 26 points and nine rebounds, Diana Taurasi added 23 points, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the host Connecticut Sun, 88-83, to reach the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs. Taurasi moved to 11-0 in elimination playoff games. Phoenix will play the second-seeded and host Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night in Game 1 of a best-of-five series.
Phoenix hit 3-pointers on three straight possessions late in the fourth quarter to take an 84-79 lead. Connecticut, down 84-81, grabbed an offensive rebound and Shekinna Stricklen was fouled with 11.4 seconds left, but she missed two free throws. Phoenix’s Camille Little grabbed the rebound and she made two free throws for a two-possession lead.
Phoenix trailed by as many as 17 points in the second quarter, but Taurasi’s layup in traffic pulled the Mercury to 45-38. Griner scored 11 of her 13 first-half points in the quarter. Griner made a baseline shot with 32 seconds left in the third for Phoenix’s first lead, 68-66, since 3-0.
BLACKHAWKS’ PILOTE DIES
Hall of Fame defenseman Pierre Pilote ,a three-time Norris Trophy winner who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 1961, has died. He was 85. The Blackhawks said Sunday that Pilote died Saturday night.
Pilote was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975, and the Blackhawks retired his No. 3 jersey — along with Keith Magnuson’s — in November 2008.
“Pierre was one of the most decorated defensemen in NHL history and was a valuable member of the 1961 Stanley Cup championship team,” the team said in a statement. “He will be remembered for his toughness, leadership and reliability on the ice — as proven by his captaincy and streak of 376 consecutive games played.”
Pilote played 13 of his 14 NHL seasons for Chicago. He captained the Blackhawks from 1961-68. Pilote, a native of Kenogami, Quebec, had 80 goals and 418 assists in 890 career NHL games. He spent his last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.