NEW YORK (AP) -- Sugar Rodgers had been in a rut offensively. So last week she gave director of player development Teresa Weathersoon a call for a late night shooting session.
The work paid off when Rodgers matched her career high with 23 points in New York's 80-75 overtime win over the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night.
"It's great to know she's there whenever I need her," said Rodgers, who was averaging just five points over her last nine games. "To be able to work out with one of the legends of this game at any time is such a great thing. She showed me a few pointers."
Rodgers said her confidence never wavered during the cold stretch and that her teammates helped keep her spirits up.
"I knew something was coming, I just had to be patient," she said.
Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer has seen how hard his young guard has been working to try to get back to where she was when she was starting early on this season while Epiphanny Prince was fulfilling an overseas commitment.
"I told her after the game in front of everybody that the work she has done in the gym for the last 10 days has paid off," Laimbeer said. "She is at the gym at 10:30 at night now working on her game. That was a great performance and everyone the room was happy for her."
New York (21-8) increased its lead in the East to 3 1/2 games over Chicago and Indiana. The Liberty, who are one victory short of matching the franchise record for wins, can clinch the best record in the conference with two more victories.
