NEW YORK — Eight months ago, Essence Carson was on the Madison Square Garden floor as a key member of the Rutgers’ basketball program, leading the Scarlet Knights to a victory in the Maggie Dixon Classic.

Now, the Paterson, N.J. native gets to call the World’s Most Famous Arena her home. The New York Liberty drafted the hometown product during a productive first round that netted two potential franchise cornerstones. Carson and Erlana Larkins were top-14 picks and both showed a glimpse of the future by scoring a combined 10 points to help the Liberty knock off top WNBA contender Seattle in a 77-63 victory at the Garden Tuesday night.

“I think it says a lot for the future. And the future is now,” coach Pat Coyle said.

Building for the future while remaining competitive can be a difficult balancing act. Only Shameka Christon and Erin Thorn possess more than three years experience on a young team. That veteran leadership is the key to contending for a playoff spot this season, which took a big step forward after the Liberty (2-3) held two-time league MVP Lauren Jackson to 19 points to defeat the Storm (5-2).

“I’ve never seen a rookie class like we have here,” Christon said. “We’re deep and when they go out there, they are relaxed. They don’t let the rookie title affect them at all. They just go out there and play hard every day in practice.”

Christon, the Liberty leading scorer, matched her career high by pouring in 25 points. Her frontcourt presence helped her teammates regrouped after Seattle erased a 16-point deficit to take a one-point third quarter lead. Christon scored 15 points in the second half, helping the Liberty snap a two-game losing skid.

Following a 16-18 campaign, the Liberty used the draft to replenish the talent pool. Carson, a three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year award recipient, was taken seventh overall while forward Larkins was selected with the 14th pick. Despite the hype, Christon said she and the other experienced players keep the rookies grounded by making them do rookie chores.

“I believe in my teammates,” Carson said. “They prepare me really well in practice. We compete like we’re playing for a world title each and every day. That’s the best preparation.”

Keeping Carson and Larkins on an even keel can help prevent emotions from ranging the spectrum. Carson scored a career-high 15 points the previous game before recording just four points on 2-7 shooting against the Storm.

Larkins added six points in 12:26 off the bench as the Liberty reserves outscored Seattle’s bench 24-10. The 6-1 forward logged 13.5 PPG starting all 35 games for North Carolina her senior year. Since the college season ends just a few months before the WNBA starts, the learning curve can be steep at times.

“Larkins, she makes pretty good decisions,” Coyle said. “If she’s double-teamed or doesn’t have a shot for herself, she’s going to make a pretty good pass out of the double team. With Essence, you get the whole package. She’s a great kid. She guards and she rebounds.

“On of the offensive end, we’ll get her better. But it’s not like she’s chopped liver. She’s a pretty good player.”

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