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The Liberty were also boosted by the play of
Sabrina Ionescu, who piled up 15 points, eight assists, seven
rebounds and two blocks. Reigning WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart
scored just eight points on 3-of-9 shooting. Stewart and Jones
each grabbed eight rebounds.
Ariel Atkins powered the Mystics with 20 points, while Brittney
Sykes chipped in 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Shakira Austin had 13 points and a career-best five blocks, and
Stefanie Dolson added 12 points.
Trailing 67-59 after three quarters, New York charged back in
the fourth, opening the final period on a 16-4 run, powered by
eight points from Jones.
The Mystics then trimmed the Liberty's lead to a point, but
Austin missed what would have been the go-ahead bucket -- a
layup off an offensive rebound -- with 17 seconds to go. Stewart
grabbed the board and Ionescu made two free throws to seal the
victory for New York.
Washington trailed by nine points midway through the second
quarter after Ionescu sank a free throw after she was fouled
while connecting on a 16-footer. Ivana Dojkic then pushed the
Liberty's advantage to 10 points with 3:37 to play in the half
by hitting 1 of 2 free throws.
The Mystics then ended the second period on a 13-0 run to take a
three-point lead into intermission. Karlie Samuelson had five
points during that stretch and assisted on the 3-pointer Austin
hit to cap the run. That span was also highlighted by Austin
stuffing one of Stewart's shots at the rim.
Washington led by eight points going into the final period after
Julie Vanloo made a 3-pointer from the logo at the third-quarter
buzzer. That shot marked the first points Vanloo scored in a
WNBA game, as the 31-year-old from Belgium was making her debut
in the league. A 5-foot-8 guard who previously starred in
France, Turkey and Australia, among other countries, Vanloo
finished with three points and four assists.
The Liberty remain on the road, playing at the Indiana Fever on
Thursday. The Mystics travel to oppose the Connecticut Sun on
Friday.
--Field Level Media [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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