TEAM NOTABLES
On Sunday, the New York Liberty (11-18) defeated the Phoenix Mercury (13-17), 89-69, in the second game of their 2022 three-game season series. Their 20-point win marked their largest victory of the season.
At Barclays Center, the Liberty finished on 49.3% (35-71) shooting from the field, 46.2% (12-26) from three, and 77.8% (7-9) at the free throw line.
Up Next: The New York Liberty will host the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, August 2 at 7 p.m. ET.
KEY RUNS
Q1: New York opened the contest on a 7-0 run through the 7:28 mark of the first quarter, prompting a Phoenix timeout. In total, the Liberty went on a 14-6 run from the 10:00 mark of the first to the 5:15 mark of the quarter.
Q2: After the Mercury tied the game at 23-23 at the 5:38 mark of the second quarter, the Liberty went on a 12-4 run from the 5:11 mark of the second to the 0:38 mark of the quarter.
Q3: New York opened the second half on a 17-7 run through the 6:08 mark of the third quarter. Phoenix responded with a 16-5 run from the 5:49 mark of the third to the 1:23 mark of the quarter.
Q4: The Liberty went on a 22-8 run from the 0:02 mark of the third quarter to the 4:16 mark of fourth quarter.
PLAYER NOTABLES
Five Liberty players scored in double figures in tonight’s game (Howard, Dangerfield, Allen, Ionescu, Dolson).
Natasha Howard finished with a game-high 23 points on 76.9% (10-13) shooting from the field, a game-high 12 rebounds, and six assists – her fourth consecutive double-double and eighth of the season. Howard is the first Liberty player to record four straight double-doubles since Tina Charles did so on September 3, 2016.
Crystal Dangerfield totaled a season-high 17 points on 58.3% (7-12) shooting from the field, including 60% (3-5) from deep, five assists, and four rebounds
Rebecca Allen finished with 17 points on 75% (6-8) shooting from the floor, including nine third-quarter points and 80% (4-5) shooting from three-point range. She also added five rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Highlighted by her franchise-record-setting 16 assists, Sabrina Ionescu finished with 10 points, a career-high 16 assists, eight rebounds, and two steals. Her 16-assist performance tied Courtney Vandersloot and Ticha Penicheiro for second-most single-game assists in WNBA history and set the New York Liberty franchise record, surpassing Teresa Weatherspoon and Cappie Pondexter’s shared record of 13.
Stefanie Dolson totaled 10 points, including 50% (1-2) shooting from deep, and seven rebounds
For Phoenix, Sophie Cunningham finished with a team-high 21 points on 43.8% (7-16) shooting from the field, while Skylar Diggins-Smith totaled 13 points, a team-high 11 assists, and four rebounds.