Ionescu scores 36 points and Liberty advance to WNBA semifinals with 91-82 win over Dream
NEW YORK (AP) The New York Liberty have been focused on bringing the first championship to the franchise after falling just short last year.
They moved one step closer to that goal as Sabrina Ionescu tied a franchise playoff record with 36 points to help the Liberty beat the Atlanta Dream 91-82 on Tuesday night and advance to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.
“The ultimate goal is what it is. But, you know, it’s every single game is a championship game to get to that final goal,” Ionescu said. “And obviously our goal is to not lose at home. So this was really important for us to come out, take these two and have a couple days off and kind of rest, recharge and get ready for whatever it is we’re going to play.”
Jonquel Jones added 20 points and 13 rebounds for the top-seeded Liberty, who swept the best-of-three series and will face Las Vegas in the next round that begins Sunday in New York. The Aces beat the Liberty in the WNBA Finals last season.
“We have unfinished business,” Jones said.
The Liberty took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter and the teams went back and forth before a layup by Courtney Vandersloot made it 75-72 with 5:41 left and started a 12-2 run. Breanna Stewart followed later in the spurt by swooping in for an offensive tip-in. It was her first points since the second quarter.
Leonie Fiebich, who scored 21 points in the opening game, then had a three-point play to extend the advantage to 82-74 with 4:11 left. She then hit a 3-pointer on the next possession to give New York a double-digit advantage for the first time in the game.
“It had a little bit of everything,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said of the run.
Atlanta couldn't get closer than seven the rest of the way.
“I don’t think it was anything they did different,” Rhyne Howard said of New York's stretch run. “We fought pretty hard, laid it out there. Coach told us to not go home with any regrets and we did that.”
Allisha Gray and Howard did all they could to try and stave off elimination. Gray finished with 26 points and Howard added 19. She also had a massive block on Stewart on a fast break in the third quarter.
“We watched it four or five times before we came in here (to the postgame presser),” Howard said smiling.
Stewart was impressed with the play by Howard
“She timed it really well,” the Liberty star said. “She got the block. I got the win.”
Unlike Game 1, when New York jumped all over Atlanta, the Dream got off to a quick start behind Gray. They led 28-19 as Gray had 14 points in the opening 10 minutes, hitting all five of her shots, including four 3-pointers.
Atlanta was up 11 in the second quarter before Ionescu started hitting deep 3s. She rallied the Liberty to take a brief 40-36 lead before the Dream closed the half on a 12-3 run to go up 48-43 at the break.
Ionescu tied Cappie Pondexter for the most points by a Liberty player in the postseason. Pondexter set the mark in 2010 also against the Dream.
“I guess I should have had one more,” Ionescu said, laughing.
The game drew another sellout crowd for New York that included Olympian Gabby Thomas, singer Pharrell as well as Spike Lee and Whoopi Goldberg. Rapper Ja Rule performed at halftime.
Ionescu said she got a high five from Lee during the third quarter.
“I felt like New York was injected into me. I was like, we’re winning this,” Ionescu said.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 1st Quarter | |||
10:00 | Jump Ball: Jonquel Jones vs. Tina Charles. | |||
9:47 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Leonie Fiebich with the assist. | 0-3 | |
9:21 | +2 | Naz Hillmon makes a layup. Rhyne Howard with the assist. | 2-3 | |
9:11 | Leonie Fiebich misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
9:11 | Naz Hillmon with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:48 | Personal foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | |||
8:44 | Personal foul committed by Jonquel Jones. | |||
8:40 | +2 | Allisha Gray makes a jump shot from 18 feet out. Jordin Canada with the assist. | 4-3 | |
8:18 | Jonquel Jones misses a layup. | |||
8:18 | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:15 | Naz Hillmon steals the ball from Jonquel Jones. | |||
8:06 | +3 | Allisha Gray makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Tina Charles with the assist. | 7-3 | |
7:46 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 8 feet out. | |||
7:46 | Naz Hillmon with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:37 | +2 | Naz Hillmon makes a layup. Jordin Canada with the assist. | 9-3 | |
7:25 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
7:25 | Rhyne Howard with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:15 | +2 | Rhyne Howard makes a jump shot from 11 feet out. | 11-3 | |
7:11 | Liberty take a full timeout. | |||
6:55 | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a layup. | 11-5 | |
6:36 | Jump Ball: Jonquel Jones vs. Naz Hillmon. | |||
6:36 | Jonquel Jones steals the ball from Naz Hillmon. | |||
6:26 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 11 feet out. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 11-7 | |
6:07 | Rhyne Howard misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
6:07 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:59 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 10 feet out. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 11-9 | |
5:38 | +3 | Allisha Gray makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Tina Charles with the assist. | 14-9 | |
5:28 | Offensive foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | |||
5:28 | Leonie Fiebich with a turnover | |||
5:28 | Substitution: Courtney Vandersloot in for Leonie Fiebich. | |||
5:18 | +2 | Tina Charles makes a hook shot from 8 feet out. Jordin Canada with the assist. | 16-9 | |
5:00 | Shooting foul committed by Allisha Gray. | |||
5:00 | +1 | Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 1 of 2. | 16-10 | |
5:00 | +1 | Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 2 of 2. | 16-11 | |
4:38 | Rhyne Howard misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | |||
4:38 | Courtney Vandersloot with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:27 | Jonquel Jones misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
4:27 | Tina Charles with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:11 | +3 | Allisha Gray makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Rhyne Howard with the assist. | 19-11 | |
3:50 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
3:50 | Dream with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:50 | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
3:34 | Tina Charles misses a hook shot from 8 feet out. | |||
3:34 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:17 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 5 feet out. | |||
3:17 | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:11 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. | 19-13 | |
2:52 | Tina Charles misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | |||
2:52 | Courtney Vandersloot with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:43 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
2:43 | Allisha Gray with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:27 | Naz Hillmon misses a layup. | |||
2:27 | Naz Hillmon with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:22 | +3 | Allisha Gray makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Naz Hillmon with the assist. | 22-13 | |
1:56 | Shooting foul committed by Tina Charles. | |||
1:56 | +1 | Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 3. | 22-14 | |
1:56 | +1 | Jonquel Jones makes free throw 2 of 3. | 22-15 | |
1:56 | Substitution: Haley Jones in for Jordin Canada. | |||
1:56 | Substitution: Lorela Cubaj in for Tina Charles. | |||
1:56 | Jonquel Jones misses free throw 3 of 3. | |||
1:56 | Naz Hillmon with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:41 | +2 | Rhyne Howard makes a jump shot from 10 feet out. | 24-15 | |
1:29 | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. | 24-17 | |
1:08 | Rhyne Howard misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | |||
1:08 | Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound. | |||
56.2 | Jonquel Jones with a turnover - 3 Second | |||
56.2 | Substitution: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in for Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
56.2 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Jonquel Jones. | |||
56.2 | Substitution: Nia Coffey in for Naz Hillmon. | |||
43.4 | Courtney Vandersloot blocks a Haley Jones layup. | |||
43.4 | Dream with an offensive rebound. | |||
37.9 | +2 | Haley Jones makes a layup. Allisha Gray with the assist. | 26-17 | |
29.9 | +2 | Nyara Sabally makes a layup. Courtney Vandersloot with the assist. | 26-19 | |
07.9 | +2 | Rhyne Howard makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. | 28-19 | |
0.7 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a jump shot from 22 feet out. | |||
0.7 | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 2nd Quarter | |||
9:48 | Allisha Gray misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
9:48 | Nia Coffey with an offensive rebound. | |||
9:36 | Shooting foul committed by Nyara Sabally. | |||
9:36 | +1 | Tina Charles makes free throw 1 of 2. | 29-19 | |
9:36 | +1 | Tina Charles makes free throw 2 of 2. | 30-19 | |
9:25 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 30-21 | |
9:07 | Shooting foul committed by Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
9:07 | Rhyne Howard misses free throw 1 of 2. | |||
9:07 | Dream with an offensive rebound. | |||
9:07 | Rhyne Howard misses free throw 2 of 2. | |||
9:07 | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:57 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 9 feet out. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 30-23 | |
8:40 | Tina Charles misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | |||
8:40 | Nia Coffey with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:34 | +2 | Nia Coffey makes a jump shot from 4 feet out. | 32-23 | |
8:22 | +2 | Nyara Sabally makes a layup. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 32-25 | |
8:07 | +2 | Rhyne Howard makes a layup. Tina Charles with the assist. | 34-25 | |
7:52 | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a layup. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 34-27 | |
7:52 | Shooting foul committed by Rhyne Howard. | |||
7:52 | Substitution: Jonquel Jones in for Nyara Sabally. | |||
7:52 | +1 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes free throw 1 of 1. | 34-28 | |
7:43 | Nia Coffey misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
7:43 | Jordin Canada with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:33 | +2 | Nia Coffey makes a layup. | 36-28 | |
7:19 | Breanna Stewart misses a layup. | |||
7:19 | Tina Charles with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:11 | Rhyne Howard misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
7:11 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:52 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 36-31 | |
6:28 | Tina Charles with a turnover - 3 Second | |||
6:17 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 6 feet out. | 36-33 | |
6:17 | Shooting foul committed by Nia Coffey. | |||
6:17 | +1 | Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 1. | 36-34 | |
6:09 | Jordin Canada misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
6:09 | Dream with an offensive rebound. | |||
6:05 | Personal foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | |||
6:05 | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Leonie Fiebich. | |||
5:50 | Jonquel Jones blocks a Jordin Canada layup from 8 feet out. | |||
5:50 | Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:39 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 32 feet out. | 36-37 | |
5:39 | Dream take a full timeout. | |||
5:39 | Substitution: Naz Hillmon in for Nia Coffey. | |||
5:30 | Allisha Gray misses a layup from 6 feet out. | |||
5:30 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:23 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
5:23 | Kayla Thornton with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:16 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
5:16 | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:07 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup from 5 feet out. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 36-39 | |
5:07 | Shooting foul committed by Tina Charles. | |||
5:07 | +1 | Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 1. | 36-40 | |
4:43 | Dream with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
4:37 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | |||
4:37 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:32 | Breanna Stewart with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
4:14 | +2 | Rhyne Howard makes a jump shot from 23 feet out. Allisha Gray with the assist. | 38-40 | |
4:03 | Breanna Stewart with a turnover - Traveling | |||
4:03 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Breanna Stewart. | |||
3:49 | Sabrina Ionescu steals the ball from Allisha Gray. | |||
3:31 | Jonquel Jones with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
3:16 | +2 | Tina Charles makes a hook shot from 8 feet out. Jordin Canada with the assist. | 40-40 | |
2:58 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
2:58 | Kayla Thornton with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:48 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
2:48 | Tina Charles with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:36 | +2 | Tina Charles makes a jump shot from 19 feet out. Jordin Canada with the assist. | 42-40 | |
2:21 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
2:21 | Naz Hillmon with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:02 | Kayla Thornton blocks a Allisha Gray layup. | |||
2:02 | Liberty with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:02 | Official's timeout. | |||
2:02 | Substitution: Breanna Stewart in for Nyara Sabally. | |||
1:45 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | |||
1:45 | Rhyne Howard with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:35 | Allisha Gray misses a layup. | |||
1:35 | Rhyne Howard with an offensive rebound. | |||
1:30 | Rhyne Howard with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
1:15 | Allisha Gray blocks a Sabrina Ionescu jump shot from 6 feet out. | |||
1:15 | Rhyne Howard with a defensive rebound. | |||
50.2 | +2 | Jordin Canada makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. | 44-40 | |
42.1 | Kayla Thornton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
42.1 | Naz Hillmon with a defensive rebound. | |||
35.4 | +2 | Jordin Canada makes a jump shot from 22 feet out. | 46-40 | |
26.5 | +3 | Jonquel Jones makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 46-43 | |
05.3 | +2 | Tina Charles makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. Rhyne Howard with the assist. | 48-43 | |
01.2 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 46 feet out. | |||
01.2 | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 2nd Quarter |