Silver Stars top Liberty in Hammon's return to Big Apple

Jun 23, 2007, 2:10 GMT

New York, NY - Becky Hammon trumped her former team, scoring a game-high 19 points - including a pair of crucial free throws with 28 seconds remaining - to guide the San Antonio Silver Stars past the New York Liberty, 70-63, at Madison Square Garden.

Hammon, who played with the Liberty from 1999-2006, was sent to the Silver Stars in a draft-day trade in April. In her first game back at the Garden, she also grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists as San Antonio won its third straight game.

Vickie Johnson chipped in with 14 points and Camille Little donated 11 for San Antonio, which topped New York for the second time in less than a week and earned a 2-0 season series sweep.

Ashley Battle poured in 17 points and nabbed six rebounds for New York, which has dropped three of its last four games and five of seven overall. Jessica Davenport finished with 11 points and Cathrine Kraayeveld had 10 for the Liberty.

New York cut it 63-61 on Davenport's free throw with 1:33 remaining, but Sophia Young hit a jumper and Hammon made both shots from the charity stripe with 28 seconds to play.

Davenport then made it a four-point game by draining two free throws with 22 ticks remaining, but Young hit a free throw and Johnson closed the door with a driving layup with 10 seconds to play.

© 2007 The Sports Network