Liberty 70 – Mercury 64

Becky Hammon exited the court with just over a minute left last night to a chorus of boos from the Garden.

It wasn’t Hammon the fans were ticked with, but head coach Richie Adubato, who sent the point guard to the bench for Crystal Robinson.

The move worked. Robinson, who was put in for defensive purposes, hit a key jumper with :59 remaining to seal the Liberty’s 70-64 win over Phoenix to improve to 6-4. Still, it was hard to blame the fans, who had just watched Hammon score seven straight points to help erase what had been a 56-49 deficit.

“I don’t want to come in for you anymore,” Robinson joked to Hammon following the win. “I don’t like to get booed.”

There wasn’t much to be unhappy about down the stretch as the Liberty held off the Mercury and received solid performances from Vickie Johnson (team-high 19 points) and Tari Phillips (18 points, 12 rebounds). Elena Bramanova, who started in place of the injured Tamika Whitmore (sprained right foot) added 12 points.

The late play enabled the Liberty to overcome a sloppy second half that saw the Mercury (2-10) erase a 12-point deficit.

“There was never a sense of urgency,” Robinson said. “We knew if we kept playing our game, things would fall into place.”

They finally did. Hammon (12 points) hit a layup with 4:57 to go thanks to a nifty pass from Teresa Weatherspoon that gave the Liberty a 59-58 lead they never relinquished.

“Spoon did a great job getting people the ball,” Adubato said of the struggling veteran, who handed out nine assists. “She delivered the ball right where it needed to be.”

And most effectively to Hammon with the game on the line. Although in the top 10 in the league in scoring, Hammon is not on the WNBA All-Star ballot – a fact that does not please her.

“I’m absolutely upset about it,” said Hammon. “It’s the second year in a row. I can’t say why it happens, but it would definitely make it more special if I made it.”

She won over Phoenix head coach John Shumate.

“She basically single-handedly ignited them,” Shumate said. “She gave them some energy and put fuel back into their fire.”

Something her teammates have grown accustomed.

“All of a sudden the ball goes out to her and she hits a three,” Phillips said. “That’s why we love her.”