Liberty Triumphs Over Mercury in Hard-Fought Game

The Liberty anticipated a mix of frustration and excitement from the Phoenix Mercury ahead of Friday’s match. The Mercury had been on a four-game losing streak, including a notable third-quarter collapse against the Liberty just a couple of days prior, where they failed to score for over six minutes.

In the end, Friday’s game turned out to be a gritty affair, with the Liberty claiming a 75-68 victory. Rookie Pauline Astier played a key role, contributing six of her team-leading 16 points in the fourth quarter, marking New York’s second consecutive win and bringing their record to 5-4.

Bethnia Laney Hamilton didn’t start for the second game in a row but was included in the lineup at the end, finishing with 13 points, along with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

The first half was nothing short of sluggish, making it a bit challenging to watch. Both teams combined to miss eight shots before Marin Johannes finally broke the ice with a 3-pointer. However, neither team managed to find any real rhythm afterward.

At halftime, the Liberty led 34-31.

During the first two quarters, the Mercury struggled, hitting only 9 out of 31 shots (29%), while the Liberty fared better at 13 of 32 (49%). Interestingly, Phoenix scored 11 of their 20 second-quarter points from the free-throw line.

The Liberty now faces an extended stretch of seven home games, marking the longest of their season. Yet, it’s evident that they haven’t been able to capitalize on this advantage just yet.

Despite struggling earlier in the homestand, where they initially dropped three consecutive games, they had managed a remarkable 23-0 run in the third quarter against the Mercury a few days prior.

This time, however, that momentum didn’t translate into the next game. Both teams broke out slowly, resulting in a rather uneventful first half. At least the fans had some fun, with Ellie the Elephant making a memorable appearance during halftime, themed around Madonna.

With a ten-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, the Liberty seemed to have the game in hand, but the Mercury closed the gap to just two points with 3:35 left. Fortunately, New York held on for the win, marking their second victory in a row after a rough patch against the Mercury.

Overall, the Liberty outscored the Mercury by a decisive 40-23 margin in the second half. However, they did struggle with ball control, committing 19 turnovers that led to 22 points for Phoenix.