Game one in the Shock-Liberty series was a rout, but maybe not in the way you would expect. New York broke open the game in the third quarter and rolled to a 73-51 romp.

Great ball movement, timely three point shooting from several players, and solid defense were keys for the Liberty to go on runs of 18-0 and 16-0 in the second half and never look back. The Liberty won nearly every statistical category and twice held the Shock to nine points in a quarter.

Conversely, the Shock looked like a dysfunctional team on the court. Cheryl Ford and Swin Cash returned to action, but really only could use the opportunity to try to get comfortable on the court again. Deanna Nolan, Shannon Johnson and Ivory Latta were the only players that had any real success offensively. Laimbeer lamented "We didn't play basketball. We didn't want it, basically. We didn't want it at all, and that was a little bit discouraging. We didn't have any desire to compete. We weren't cohesive as a ball club coming into this game. They have to find it in the next day and a half, and I hope they do."

As Voepel points out, one catalyst for the success for the Liberty is their emotional leader Janel McCarville. The MIP winner did not get as many of her shots to fall last night, but her presence was pivotal in the two big Liberty runs. McCarville also opened things up for Shameka Christon, who played one of best all around games this year and finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds. "It's a playoff," Christon said. "Everybody has to step it up a notch, that's what my teammates and coaches told me to do."

As good as the players, coaches and fans feel about the performance from the young team they know the series is not over. "All we did tonight was what we were supposed to do – protect home court," Patty Coyle said. "It's one game, that's all it is."