Stewie Scores 19 in return to lineup

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

Breanna Stewart made her return from injury as the Liberty took on the Connecticut Sun at the Barclays Center on Monday. After missing 13 games, Stewart made an instant impact with a team-high 19 points in a 81-79 win.

“I wanted to push it while I was out there and see how I felt,” Stewart said about playing 20 minutes in her return. “It was good to be back with the team.”

Connecticut had no answer in the first quarter as 18 of NY’s 27 points came from inside the paint. The ball was flying around as the Liberty tried to tap back into their swagger, picking up 11 assists in the opening frame. New York led by as much as 17 in the early stages of the game.

Connecticut muscled their way back into the game ahead of halftime, outscoring the hosts 21-10 to finish the half. The Liberty ball movement stagnated as they only managed two assists in the second quarter. Connecticut were able to seize the advantage early in the 3rd and the game remained tight the rest of the way.

New York found their passing touch once more in the final frame. With the ball flying around the Liberty opened up countless looks from the perimeter with some crafty backdoor cuts to the rim. They finished with 25 assists on 29 made field goals, adding to their league-leading assist percentage (73% of Liberty baskets have come from passes).

Still, they were unable to pull away even with a late scoring flurry. In the final possession, Connecticut opted not to foul and managed to force a turnover. On a fast-break in the last seconds Sabrina Ionescu and Kennedy Burke raced down to smother what would have been a game-tying layup to preserve the win.

Marina Maybrey was huge for Connecticut down the stretch, leading the way with four three point shots. In a tough matchup she and Aneesah Morrow kept hitting deep shots to keep the Sun in the game against all odds. Rookie Laïla Lacan added a game-high 22 points, showing some serious potential for a team that had significant struggles early in the season. Despite being outmatched in size, Connecticut played a physical and gritty game to match one of the best teams in the league.

“They’re young and they’re athletic. [Lacan] was a handful for us, we had a hard time containing her,” said Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello postgame.

Jonquel Jones finished off yet another Liberty double-double with 11 boards and 18 points. It’s her 101st career double-double and 33rd with the Liberty who are undefeated in those games. She added a pair of threes, played strong defense, and picked up 6 assists in a terrific all-around performance.

“Obviously we win when I have a double-double, but watching the other games it’s a point of emphasis to be a little more aggressive and get the rebounds,” said Jones.

While the scoring has been phenomenal all season, the best metrics for Liberty success are found in the assist and rebounding numbers. In their 15 losses this year, 12 of them involved either losing the rebound or assist battle.

It’s been a brutal summer with tough losses and injury issues for New York, causing them to slip to 2nd in the East and 5th overall in the league. The top 8 teams will qualify for the WNBA playoffs starting in mid-September.

Guard Natasha Cloud is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday night as the Liberty take on the Mystics after she was diagnosed with a facial fracture. It’s their second to last regular season game at the Barclays Center, with the final home game also against DC on Tuesday, September 9.

A Happy 20th to the Torches!

The Timeless Torches, a senior dance team for the NY Liberty celebrated their 20th anniversary during Monday’s contest with Connecticut. Composed of dancers between the ages of 40 and 80 the Torches have been a crowd favorite at Liberty games since their days at Madison Square Garden.

In the second quarter, they took the floor to celebrate their milestone with a new routine. Dressed in black, the Torches lined up in formation and quickly had all eyes on them. The Barclays Center erupted as the Torches marched onto center court. By the end of a stunning routine the crowd was on their feet, roaring in support of a truly timeless performance.

It was the loudest the arena got all night, even as the Liberty and Sun faced off in an intense matchup. The Torches have truly cemented themselves as an iconic part of every Liberty home game, and for good reason. They bring an unmatched level of energy that lifts the arena’s spirits without fail each night.