- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,269,648
- Reaction score
- 59
New York Liberty rookie guard Pauline Astier piloted the offense down the stretch, and Breanna Stewart fueled a second-half comeback that amounted in an 83-75 win over the Indiana Fever on Saturday at Barclays Center in Commissioner’s Cup play.
The Fever led for most of the first half and by as many as nine points in the opening two quarters, and that's despite Clark struggling early. She was 0 of 5 from the floor in the first quarter and didn't make her first field goal until more than three minutes into the second frame.
Although Liberty guard Marine Johannes drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the game's infancy, New York quickly went cold from downtown. In fact, head coach Chris DeMarco's team, which came in third in the WNBA with a 36.8% clip from 3, missed 16 of its 18 long-range attempts, clocking out with its fewest-made 3s in a game since 2022.
Indiana received a sizable boost from forward Monique Billings. She went scoreless in the Fever's previous two outings. This time around, though, she piled up a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Billings helped the Fever create separation late in the first quarter after the score was knotted 15-15. Five quick points from the veteran did the trick.
Indiana entered the second quarter with a four-point advantage. The Fever remained in control as Clark started to find her footing as a scorer. She knocked down her patented step-back 3 midway through the frame.
At times, however, miscommunication neutralized Clark's playmaking chops. There was one instance in the quarter when Clark thought fellow guard Kelsey Mitchell was headed left, and, instead, she went right, resulting in one of Clark's three turnovers.
Even so, the Fever built a nine-point cushion. Fortunately for New York, it was able to cut its deficit to three before intermission. A layup through contact from Satou Sabally and four Liberty free throws made it a one-possession game.
But then in the third quarter, the Fever stretched their lead to 12. Clark dialed up a 29-foot triple and then a pair of dimes, one to a backdoor-cutting Billups and another to center Aliyah Boston. With 6:24 left in the frame, two Mitchell free throws put Indiana up 51-39.
That's when the Liberty put the brakes on a high-octane, Stephanie White-led offense that thrives on movement. New York ramped up the pressure, with DeMarco imposing a tenacious press that consistently turned the Fever over.
In the process, Stewart heated up, and Liberty fans created a raucous. After cashing in a layup, the two-time WNBA MVP located Sabally on the run. She scored inside as well. Later, following two free throws from New York guard Rebekah Gardner, Stewart hit a turnaround, fadeaway jumper to make it a 57-54 game.
The fourth quarter got going with Stewart draining a free throw after Boston was assessed a technical for spewing some apparently choice words at an official after the third frame wrapped.
The Liberty kept their foot on the gas. Center Jonquel Jones delivered a no-look pass to Stewart, who completed the highlight-reel play with a layup. Soon enough, Jones tied the game 66-66 at the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Clark was on the bench with five fouls.
She checked back in with four minutes to go, as Stewart gave the Liberty a two-point lead at the free-throw line. Mitchell made two timely field goals to keep the Fever close. But those were overshadowed by an incredible sequence from Astier. She glided with a Euro step to the cup, angled an assist to Jones and, perhaps most notably, skirted past Clark on a drive for two. The French native scored or assisted on six consecutive Liberty points late.
When Indiana ran out of counter punches, New York found much-welcomed breathing room at the stripe.
Continue reading...
The Fever led for most of the first half and by as many as nine points in the opening two quarters, and that's despite Clark struggling early. She was 0 of 5 from the floor in the first quarter and didn't make her first field goal until more than three minutes into the second frame.
Although Liberty guard Marine Johannes drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the game's infancy, New York quickly went cold from downtown. In fact, head coach Chris DeMarco's team, which came in third in the WNBA with a 36.8% clip from 3, missed 16 of its 18 long-range attempts, clocking out with its fewest-made 3s in a game since 2022.
Indiana received a sizable boost from forward Monique Billings. She went scoreless in the Fever's previous two outings. This time around, though, she piled up a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Billings helped the Fever create separation late in the first quarter after the score was knotted 15-15. Five quick points from the veteran did the trick.
Indiana entered the second quarter with a four-point advantage. The Fever remained in control as Clark started to find her footing as a scorer. She knocked down her patented step-back 3 midway through the frame.
At times, however, miscommunication neutralized Clark's playmaking chops. There was one instance in the quarter when Clark thought fellow guard Kelsey Mitchell was headed left, and, instead, she went right, resulting in one of Clark's three turnovers.
Even so, the Fever built a nine-point cushion. Fortunately for New York, it was able to cut its deficit to three before intermission. A layup through contact from Satou Sabally and four Liberty free throws made it a one-possession game.
But then in the third quarter, the Fever stretched their lead to 12. Clark dialed up a 29-foot triple and then a pair of dimes, one to a backdoor-cutting Billups and another to center Aliyah Boston. With 6:24 left in the frame, two Mitchell free throws put Indiana up 51-39.
That's when the Liberty put the brakes on a high-octane, Stephanie White-led offense that thrives on movement. New York ramped up the pressure, with DeMarco imposing a tenacious press that consistently turned the Fever over.
In the process, Stewart heated up, and Liberty fans created a raucous. After cashing in a layup, the two-time WNBA MVP located Sabally on the run. She scored inside as well. Later, following two free throws from New York guard Rebekah Gardner, Stewart hit a turnaround, fadeaway jumper to make it a 57-54 game.
The fourth quarter got going with Stewart draining a free throw after Boston was assessed a technical for spewing some apparently choice words at an official after the third frame wrapped.
The Liberty kept their foot on the gas. Center Jonquel Jones delivered a no-look pass to Stewart, who completed the highlight-reel play with a layup. Soon enough, Jones tied the game 66-66 at the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Clark was on the bench with five fouls.
She checked back in with four minutes to go, as Stewart gave the Liberty a two-point lead at the free-throw line. Mitchell made two timely field goals to keep the Fever close. But those were overshadowed by an incredible sequence from Astier. She glided with a Euro step to the cup, angled an assist to Jones and, perhaps most notably, skirted past Clark on a drive for two. The French native scored or assisted on six consecutive Liberty points late.
When Indiana ran out of counter punches, New York found much-welcomed breathing room at the stripe.
Continue reading...
