Shock 64, Liberty 63

6/1/2006 9:39 PM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -Swin Cash scored 20 points and Deanna Nolan hit the winning layup with 1.4 seconds left as the Detroit Shock edged the New York Liberty 64-63 on Thursday night.

Cash had her highest point total since a serious knee injury in September 2004, added 12 rebounds and kept the Shock (3-1) from losing to the WNBA's worst team.

Cheryl Ford added 13 points and 13 rebounds, including a third-try putback that left her sprawled and in pain with 25.6 seconds left. The preliminary diagnosis was a severely sprained left ankle.

That set the stage for Nolan, who was held scoreless in the first half. On a designed play off a sideline in bounds pass, she used a screen from Ruth Riley to get wide open for the final basket.

The Liberty (0-4) didn't look like a team that had been outscored by an average of 24.3 points per game and led most of the night. When the Shock took a 61-58 lead, Ashley Battle hit a quick 3-pointer to tie it with 12.5 seconds left.

Nolan hit one of two free throws to give Detroit a 62-61 lead. But New York answered with two free throws from Battle, who scored 18 points to share the team lead with Sherill Baker.

The Liberty built a 29-19 lead in the second quarter. But Cash controlled the rest of the half as the Shock cut the deficit to 31-27. Her second surge gave Detroit just enough points to avoid an embarrassing setback.