TEAM NOTABLES
On Tuesday, the New York Liberty (9-14) fell to the Las Vegas Aces (16-7), 107-101, in the second game of their 2022 three-game season series.
WNBA RECORD: Tonight, New York set the all-time WNBA record for most points scored by any team in a single half with their 73-point second half. The previous record was held by the Detroit Shock with 72 points in the second half on July 8, 2007.
At Barclays Center, the Liberty finished on 44.7% (34-76) shooting from the field, 48.4% (15-31) from three, and 81.8% (18-22) at the free throw line.
Additionally, the Liberty’s 38-point fourth quarter marked a season high in scoring for a quarter
Up Next: The New York Liberty will remain home to host the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, July 14 at 11 a.m. ET in the second game of their two-game home-and-home set.
KEY RUNS
Q1: The Aces opened the game on an 11-5 run through the 6:43 mark of the first quarter.
Q2: Las Vegas went on a 10-2 run from the 7:06 mark of the second to the 3:39 mark of the quarter.
Q3: The Liberty went on a 19-4 run from the 4:49 mark of the third to the 0:31 mark of the quarter.
Q4: New York went on a 12-5 run from the 3:13 mark of the fourth to the 1:26 mark of the quarter.
PLAYER NOTABLES
Three Liberty players scored in double figures in tonight’s game (Ionescu, Howard, Whitcomb).
WNBA RECORD: Sabrina Ionescu finished tied for a game-high with 27 points on 52.9% (9-17) shooting from the floor, including 44.4% (4-9) from deep and 21 points in the fourth quarter, five assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Ionescu’s 21-point fourth quarter set a new franchise record for quarterly scoring and the new WNBA record for fourth quarter scoring.
Natasha Howard totaled 20 points on 45.5% (5-11) shooting from the field and 11 rebounds – her fourth double-double of the season.
Highlighted by her 15-point third quarter that included five made three-pointers, Sami Whitcomb came off the bench and finished with a season-high 17 points on 85.7% (6-7) shooting from the floor, including 83.3% (5-6) from deep, and three assists. Whitcomb is the first Liberty player in the quarters era to make five-plus three-pointers in a single quarter, tying the WNBA record for most threes in a third quarter in the process.
For Las Vegas, Kelsey Plum finished tied for a game-high with 27 points, and A’ja Wilson finished with 23 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.