Sabrina Ionescu’s three-point play with 9.7 seconds left lifted the New York Liberty to an 83-80 win over the visiting Chicago Sky on Saturday night to snap a five-game losing streak.
Trailing 80-78 with 19 seconds left, Ionescu took the ball and drove the lane where she was fouled by Rebekah Gardner. Ionescu, who finished with 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, converted the free throw to give New York (10-17) the lead.
Chicago (21-7) got the ball but Candace Parker missed a shot in the lane with just over 2 seconds left. After Michaela Onyenwere hit two free throws, the Sky had one last chance, but Emma Meesseman’s 3-pointer bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
The loss ended the Sky’s six-game winning streak.
Sabrina Ionescu with a CLUTCH performance, leading the Liberty to a victory and ending a New York losing streak ????<a href=”https://twitter.com/sabrina_i20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@sabrina_i20</a>: 17 PTS, 9 AST, 8 REB <a href=”https://t.co/25fCZ56ig1″>pic.twitter.com/25fCZ56ig1</a>
—@WNBA
Parker finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Sky, who were playing the second-half of a back-to-back. Chicago, which already has wrapped up a playoff berth, played Friday night at home before traveling to New York on Saturday morning. The Sky’s flight was delayed because of storms and got them in to New York around noon.
They trailed 69-59 early in the fourth quarter before the Sky went on a 13-2 run to take a 72-71 lead on Parker’s putback with 3:11 left.
Ionescu then gave New York the lead for good.
The game also featured a match-up between Chinese players Han Xu of New York and Li Yueru of Chicago. The game was televised live in China. Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang was in attendance as well as WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the head of NBA China Michael Ma.
Han finished with 12 points while Li didn’t score in four minutes of play.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
