NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Liberty weren't going to give away first place in the Eastern Conference that easily.

Crystal Robinson scored 16 points and the Liberty stormed back from a 15-point deficit to defeat the Charlotte Sting, 56-52, and remain perfect at Radio City Music Hall.

In their first game since July 31, the Liberty (14-12) maintained the top spot in the East, which has four teams within two games of each other. They improved to 3-0 at Radio City, their home away from home while the Republican Convention occupies Madison Square Garden.

New York trailed, 30-15, late in the first half but rallied behind the offense of Robinson, Becky Hammon and LaKeshia Frett and its defense, which forced Charlotte to miss 14 of its last 18 shots.

Two free throws by Frett gave the Liberty the lead for good at 52-50 with 1:41 to go. After a turnover by the Sting with 27 seconds left, Hammon and Robinson sank two free throws each to seal the win, the Liberty's fifth in six games.

Gold medal Olympian Dawn Staley and Charlotte Smith-Taylor scored 13 points each for the Sting (13-14), who were swept in the four-game season series for the first time since 2000.