Liberty and Lynx Battle in Thrilling Game
MINNEAPOLIS — Liberty and Lynx certainly know how to set the scene for a captivating match. Every time these teams meet, it feels like the tension rises, and Saturday’s afternoon game was no different.
They exchanged baskets rapidly, and emotions flared. There was even a technical foul.
Sabrina Ionescu’s Liberty staged an exhilarating comeback during the third quarter, yet fell short against the Lynx, who clinched a 90-85 victory.
At one point in the third quarter, the Lynx seemed to have the game firmly in hand, enjoying a 15-point lead and energizing the home crowd. It looked like an easy win for them, especially considering the Liberty were down a few players.
But Ionescu had her own agenda. She netted 19 points in the third quarter, propelling the Liberty from a daunting 15-point deficit.
As the fourth quarter rolled around, tensions escalated. Hanshu got frustrated, bouncing the ball a tad too hard, resulting in a technical foul. Then, Coach Chris DeMarco got his own technical for letting his feelings be known to the referee.
The game stayed within a few points until the final quarter. Kayla McBride was a powerhouse in those last ten minutes. She converted a technical free throw and then hit a three-pointer, extending the Lynx’s lead to six points.
In the midst of a stoppage, the crowd erupted with chants of “Our Home.”
As time wound down, Jones sank a three-pointer, narrowing the Lynx’s lead to three with less than 40 seconds remaining. A foul by Marin Johannes then sent Olivia Miles to the free-throw line, pushing Minnesota’s advantage further.
McBride managed to score 14 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter. Miles tallied 23 points, five rebounds, and four assists, and the game wrapped up with an electric celebration from the Lynx while Liberty players exited to their locker room.
Day games can really throw off routines, and perhaps that contributed to a slow start for both squads during the matinee.
Ionescu struggled initially. She missed her first five attempts and didn’t score from the field until just under two minutes left in the second quarter.
But she shook off the early jitters and once again captivated the fans. It’s interesting, though; Brianna Stewart often carries the weight for the Liberty, but this time, Ionescu took the spotlight.
Ionescu ended up scoring 19 of her 25 points in that third quarter alone, shooting 7 of 10 from the field, making her one of the few players this season to achieve that kind of quarter.
Her effort helped the Liberty close in after trailing by 15 down the stretch in the third. The momentum shifted as Ionescu scored and Johannes hit two key threes.
New York ended the quarter on a 21-5 run, taking a one-point lead. The game remained tight throughout, but in the end, the Lynx edged out this battle.
