NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu scored 31 factors, hitting six of New York’s 17 three-pointers to guide the Liberty to a 99-61 rout of the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday in a matchup of the highest two groups within the WNBA.
The Liberty have received 4 straight and snapped the Aces’ eight-game successful streak, handing Las Vegas (24-3) solely its third lack of the season in entrance of a raucous sellout crowd of 11,418.
The Aces had been bidding to match the 1998 Houston Comets for many wins earlier than struggling a 3rd defeat. These two squads will play three extra occasions this month, together with for the Commissioner’s Cup championship on Aug. 15 in Las Vegas.
Within the first assembly between the groups in June, the Aces used a dominant third quarter to blow open the sport. The Liberty did it this time, outscoring Las Vegas 30-9 within the interval. The Aces got here into the sport main the WNBA in scoring at 94.4 factors.
New York (22-6) led by 5 on the half and scored the primary eight factors of the third quarter to increase the benefit to 57-44. Ionescu had six of the eight. A’ja Wilson lastly obtained the Aces’ on the board within the second half, hitting two free throws 3:45 into the third quarter. But it surely was all New York for the remainder of the quarter because it prolonged the result in 79-53.
Wilson had a troublesome sport, she was 2-for-14 from the sector for 9 factors. She additionally had a scare late within the first quarter when she caught an elbow to the face from Jonquel Jones on a put up transfer within the lane with 53.4 seconds left. It was the primary foul of the sport.
The reigning MVP stayed down for a number of seconds earlier than getting up and going again to the locker room because the play was reviewed and ultimately upgraded to a flagrant foul. Wilson returned to hit the 2 free throws earlier than returning to the locker room briefly.
New York trailed by three after one earlier than the Liberty scored the primary 10 factors of the second quarter, thanks largely to Ionescu, who had eight of them together with two deep 3-pointers. The Liberty led 49-44 on the half as Ionescu had 23 factors.
Courtney Vandersloot hit two of them in addition to having six assists to maneuver into second place all-time on the league’s profession listing by passing Ticha Penicheiro’s mark of two,599. Vandersloot has 2,600 in her profession now. Sue Chook is the all-time chief with 3,234.
The Liberty introduced earlier than the sport that they’d donate $500 for each help Vandersloot had Sunday to boost help and consciousness for the A number of Myeloma Analysis Basis. Vandersloot’s mother has most cancers. New York may also give $100 for each dwelling help that the star guard has all through the rest of the season.
