NEW YORK -- The Liberty have been finding ways to win close games lately.New York nearly blew an 18-point lead against Seattle before holding on for a 78-74 victory on Wednesday night. The Liberty have won five of their past six games that have either gone to overtime or been decided by four points or fewer.We said we dont want to just be a mediocre team, said Tina Charles, who led New York with 18 points. It was good finding a way to win again as we didnt want to lose two straight games.Since dropping three in a row at the end of May, including two in overtime, New York has won 11 of 14 overall. Tanisha Wright added a season-high 18 points for the Liberty (13-6).New York led for the entire game, building its advantage to 18 in the first half before Seattle rallied behind Breanna Stewart, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft this past April. She finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds.Its frustrating losing, but we are competing, Stewart said. We were coming off a back-to-back and wanted to be competitive with one of the best teams in the league.The Storm (6-12) trailed by seven midway through the fourth before Stewart scored five straight to get them within 75-73. After getting a stop on the defensive end, Sue Bird was fouled with 4.9 seconds left and hit the first of two free throws. Her second bounced off the rim and New York grabbed the rebound.Wright hit two free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining and Seattle turned the ball over on its last possession to seal the game.Bird, who grew up on Long Island and said she had about 60 family and friends at the game, matched her season high with 10 assists. She also had 10 assists against New York in the earlier meeting this season in Seattle.A beautiful rendition of the national anthem was sung before the game by a group of students from Daniels Music Foundation. 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University of Houston athletic director Hunter Yurachek met last month with Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott while on a trip to the West Coast as the school tries to attract interest from Power Five conferences.Pac-12 spokesman Erik Hardenbergh confirmed Monday that Scott met with Yurachek at the athletic directors request. Houston spokesman David Bassity said Yurachek used the meeting to discuss myriad topics related to the future of college athletics.The Pac-12 has given no indication it is looking to expand from its current 12 members.Houston is a member of the American Athletic Conference and one of many schools outside Power Five leagues that have been working behind the scenes to move to a more lucrative conference.The Big 12 has been considering expansion for months and still has not made a decision. The conference is holding media days in Dallas this week and its presidents are scheduled to meet Tuesday, with expansion on the agenda.The Big 12 is the only Power FFive conference with 10 members.dddddddddddd The rest have at least 12. The conference has announced it will reinstitute its football championship games and likely break into divisions, even if it does not add members.Houston, along with fellow AAC members Memphis, UCF, Connecticut and Cincinnati, and other schools such as Colorado State, have reached out to members of the Big 12 board of directors to pitch their schools over the last year.The Cougars have a hot football program and a new on-campus stadium, but being in Texas isnt necessarily helping its prospects with the Big 12. The league already has four schools in the state and a large presence in the city of Houston, especially with University of Texas alumni. 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