Rockers Find a Winning Duo

Suzie McConnell Serio directed a potent Cleveland offense and top draft pick Cindy Blodgett made a couple of big baskets as the Rockers beat the New York Liberty, 78-71, Thursday night before 17,911 at Cleveland.

McConnell Serio finished with 10 points and 10 assists. Her length-of-the-court pass to Rushia Brown, who made a short jumper, increased Cleveland’s lead to 69-55 with 5:09 left and put the game out of reach.

Sophia Witherspoon scored 19 points for the Liberty. Rebecca Lobo added 12, but picked up two quick fouls and missed 11 minutes of the first half.

That’s when the Rockers took control of the game with an 11-0 run that started when Blodgett, a two-time NCAA scoring champion from Maine, sank her first shot, a 14-foot jumper off a feed from McConnell Serio. She finished with seven points.

Charlotte 83, Washington 57--Rookie Tracy Reid had 17 points and five rebounds in her debut as the Sting opened the season with a victory over the visiting expansion Mystics.

Reid, picked seventh in this year’s draft after twice being named the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year at North Carolina, made seven of nine field-goal attempts and drew repeated ovations from the Charlotte Coliseum crowd of 9,092.

Andrea Stinson led the Sting with 19 points.

Phoenix 73, Sacramento 70--Bridget Pettis snapped a tie on a three-point play with 4.5 seconds remaining, then intercepted a Sacramento pass as the Mercury beat the Monarchs before 7,816 at Sacramento.

Phoenix was led by Jennifer Gillom’s 22 points.