Originally published Friday, September 19, 2008 at 12:00 AM

WNBA | Becky Hammon lifts Silver Stars by Sacramento

Becky Hammon made six three-pointers and scored 30 points to give the San Antonio Silver Stars an 85-78 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs...

By The Associated Press

WNBA schedule/scoreboard

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Becky Hammon made six three-pointers and scored 30 points to give the San Antonio Silver Stars an 85-78 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs in the opener of the WNBA's Western Conference playoffs on Thursday night.

Game 2 of the best-of-three series is Saturday in San Antonio. The Silver Stars posted a league-best 24-10 record in the regular season and were 15-2 at home.

After struggling early, Sophia Young got going in the second half and finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Vickie Johnson had 13 points and eight assists for the Silver Stars, who led by 22 in the third quarter. Erin Buescher scored 10 points and Ann Wauters had eight.

Ticha Penicheiro scored 19 points and had seven assists for Sacramento. Nicole Powell scored 16 points and Crystal Kelly had 12. Bothered by the defense of Johnson, Kara Lawson attempted only five shots and finished with seven points.

At Liberty 72, Sun 63

Shameka Christon scored 19 points, Lake Washington High product Cathrine Kraayeveld had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and the New York Liberty beat the Connecticut Sun 72-63 Thursday night in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

Janel McCarville added 13 points for New York, which closed the regular season with three losses in four games.

Tamika Whitmore scored 16 points and Asjha Jones had 11 for Connecticut, which continued its late-season slump and fell for the fourth time in five games.

"Our play was just not good enough," Sun coach Mike Thibault said. "We have to get more people involved and do a better job passing the ball. Someone else besides our two post players have to step up."

Game 2 is Saturday in Connecticut.

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