TEAM NOTABLES
On Friday, the New York Liberty (3-7) defeated the Washington Mystics (7-4), 74-70, in the first game of their 2022 three-game season series.
At Entertainment & Sports Arena, the Liberty finished on 36.5% (23-63) shooting from the field, 32.4% (11-34) from three, and 94.4% (17-18) at the free throw line.
New York opened the game with seven steals in the first quarter, one steal shy of the WNBA single-game record for steals in a first quarter since the league switched from halves to quarters in 2006. Entering tonight, the Liberty had only once totaled seven assists in a quarter on May 21, 2010 also against the Washington Mystics.
Up Next: The New York Liberty will return home to the Big Apple and host the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, June 5 at 2 p.m. ET.
KEY RUNS
Q1: New York went on a 10-0 run from the 8:54 mark of the first to the 5:56 mark of the quarter.
Q2: Washington went on a 13-5 run from the 8:02 mark of the second to the 3:10 mark of the quarter.
Q3: New York went on a 16-8 run from the 9:26 mark of the third to the 3:50 mark of the quarter. Washington responded with a 9-0 run from the 3:27 mark to the 1:44 mark of the third quarter.
Q4: Washington went on a 13-5 run from the 6:18 mark of the fourth to the 3:07 mark of the quarter.
PLAYER NOTABLES
Three Liberty players scored in double figures in tonight’s game (Ionescu, Howard, Allen).
Highlighted by her 12-point third quarter, Sabrina Ionescu finished with a game-high 24 points on 40% (6-15) shooting, including a season-high five made three-pointers on 50% (5-10) shooting from behind the three-point arc and a perfect 100% (7-7) from the charity stripe.
New York’s second-leading scorer, Natasha Howard totaled 17 points, seven rebounds, and three steals.
Rebecca Allen added 11 points on 50% (3-6) shooting from the field, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
For Washington, Natasha Cloud finished with a team-high 17 points, including 11 points in the fourth quarter, a team-high eight assists, and five rebounds.