Jonquel Jones scored a season-high 29 points and pulled down eight rebounds as the New York Liberty won their seventh consecutive game with a 93-88 victory over the visiting Washington Mystics on Sunday afternoon.
Jones scored off a layup with 8.7 seconds left off an outlet pass to put the Liberty (11-2) up three and then New York survived a desperation 3-point attempt by Jade Melbourne with 4.6 seconds remaining.
Sabrina Ionescu scored 19, Breanna Stewart added 14 and Leonie Fiebich made four 3-pointers and scored 12 for New York, which was back home after three in a row on the road.
Kennedy Burke gave New York the lead for good at 80-77 on a 3-pointer with 7:43 to play on a day when there were 11 ties and 17 lead changes.
That shot was part of a 10-0 New York run that gave the Liberty enough breathing room to hold on against the Mystics (0-12), who continue the worst start in franchise history and are the only winless team in the WNBA.
Melbourne’s career-high 21 points weren’t enough for the Mystics. Myisha Hines-Allen finished with a team-high 20 and Ariel Atkins chipped in 13 points.
This game counted in the Commissioner’s Cup standings, where the Liberty now stand at 5-0. The Mystics are 0-4.
This game was close throughout, with the two teams tied at 45 at the half.
Near the end of the third, Stewart was fouled going to the basket and hit two free throws to put New York up 72-70.
Atkins quickly raced down the floor with 3.3 to play and launched up a 3-pointer that went in off the glass but was waived off after it was ruled she didn’t release the shot before time expired.
Ionescu and Jones combined for four 3-pointers early in the first quarter as the Liberty took control with an 18-11 lead.
Jones’ third 3-pointer of the day with 26.6 seconds left gave New York a 24-23 lead after one.
New York led 40-36 with 3:32 left in the half before the Mystics used a 9-0 run that was capped by Julie Vanloo’s two free throws for a 45-40 lead. But the Liberty tied the game at halftime on a 3-pointer from Ivana Dojkic with 34 seconds remaining.
–Field Level Media