Detroit 61, New York 59

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2008 (AP) -- The Detroit Shock's main focus was to avoid injuries in its season finale against the New York Liberty. They achieved that goal and came away with their fifth straight victory.

Deanna Nolan and Plenette Pierson scored 11 points each to lead Detroit to a 61-59 win Sunday.

"The No. 1 thing was don't get anybody injured and get some people some time that don't normally get that time,'' Shock coach Bill Laimbeer said. "I thought we did OK. I thought we had our moments when we looked a little disorganized, but for the most part I thought we played hard enough to win.''

Katie Smith and Ashley Shields added nine points each, and Nolan and Alexis Hornbuckle had seven rebounds apiece for Detroit (22-12), which won for the sixth time in seven games after the Olympic break.

"We talked before this little stretch after the break that we wanted to start locking in and getting ready and seeing how good we can be,'' Laimbeer said. "We feel good about ourselves right now.''

The Shock (22-12), the top seed in the Eastern Conference, open the playoffs at Indiana on Friday night.

"It's been a long regular season, with the Olympic break,'' Smith said. "We really like where we're at, we like our mix of people, we like how we're playing. ... It's that time.''

Erlana Larkins scored 13 points and Lisa Willis added 12 for New York (19-15). Cathrine Kraayeveld had nine points for the Liberty, who have lost three of four.

"I'm disappointed we struggled so much offensively,'' New York coach Pat Coyle said, "but when you really look at it, because of injuries we've been playing a lot of different people. We haven't been able to get into a steady flow.''

Leading scorer Shameka Christon missed three games last week due to a strained right hamstring, second-leading scorer Janel McCarville returned in this game after missing three with back spasms, and top reserve Tiffany Jackson has not played since the break due to a stress fracture.

"Larkins has been consistent inside ever since I went down, and that's been big for us,'' said McCarville, who had four points and two rebounds in 16 1/2 minutes. "Obviously to have another scorer in the post is something we need, so her stepping up is great.''

The Liberty host Connecticut in the postseason opener on Thursday night.

Sheri Sam had a layup and two free throws, and Pierson hit one from the line to push Detroit's lead to 61-53 with 2:33 left.

New York closed with a 6-0 run, capped by Larkins' layup with 3.4 seconds to go.

The Liberty shot 36 percent from the field, including 11-for-29 (38 percent) on 3-pointers. New York attempted just eight free throws, making four. The Shock were 16-for-20 from the line.

Kelly Schumacher, who played with the Liberty in 2006, hit a jumper to stretch the Shock's led to 50-40 with 8:27 left in the game.

Kraayeveld and Willis hit consecutive 3s to pull the Liberty to 50-46 with 6:17 left. Kraayeveld hit a 3-pointer and Leilani Mitchell had a driving layup to pull New York to 56-53 with 3:33 left.

Pierson had a three-point play and Smith and Nolan each hit a jumper to give Detroit its biggest lead -- 42-31 -- with 6:04 left in the third.

The Liberty followed with a 7-0 run of their own, including 3s by Willis and Loree Moore, to pull to 42-38 with 2:17 to go in the period.

Pierson hit three free throws in the final minute of the first half to give the Shock a 35-28 lead at the break.