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New York Liberty

Liberty Surge Past Las Vegas to Get Back in Title Fight

October 15, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
New York Liberty News Release


On Sunday, in front of a Liberty record-breaking sellout crowd of 17,143 at Barclays Center, the New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces, 87-73, in Game 3 of the 2023 WNBA Finals, forcing a Game 4 on Wednesday.

The Liberty's victory today marked their first Finals win since Teresa Weatherspoon's half-court shot in Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals, and the team's first Finals win at home in franchise history.

At Barclays Center, the Liberty finished on 52.4% (33-63) shooting from the field, 43.3% (13-30) from three, and 50% (8-16) at the free throw line.

The Liberty's 13 three-pointers tied the franchise postseason record and tied for the third most three-point makes in a Finals game in WNBA history.

New York's eight blocks tied for the second-most in a single game in franchise postseason history, while the Liberty defense held Las Vegas to a postseason-low 33.3% shooting from the field.

Additionally, Las Vegas' 10 third-quarter points marked a postseason-low in quarterly scoring, while their 31.8% shooting from three is their second-lowest mark of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs.

Up Next: The New York Liberty will host the Las Vegas Aces in Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals on Wednesday, October 18, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

KEY RUNS

Q1: New York went on an 11-2 run from the 4:21 mark of the first to the 1:56 mark of the opening quarter. Las Vegas responded with a 9-0 run from the 1:37 mark of the first to the 9:30 mark of the second quarter.

Q2: New York went on a 10-2 run from the 9:17 mark of the second to the 7:28 mark of the first half.

Q3: New York went on a 15-6 run from the 7:40 mark of the third to the 1:53 mark of the quarter.

Q4: New York went on a 17-6 run from the 4:17 mark of the fourth to the 1:23 mark of the final quarter.

PLAYER NOTABLES

New York finished with four double-digit scorers in today's game (Jones, Stewart, Laney, Vandersloot).

Jonquel Jones finished with a team-high 27 points on 66.7% (10-15) shooting from the field, including 57.1% (4-7) from deep, eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Eighteen of her team-high 27 points came in the first half, and her four threes marked a postseason career-high for made three-pointers.

Breanna Stewart totaled 20 points on 50% (8-16) shooting from the field, a game-high 12 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks--the tenth postseason double-double of her career. Six of her 12 rebounds came in the third quarter, during which she also recorded both her blocks.

Betnijah Laney finished with 12 points on 62.5% (5-8) shooting from the field, including 40% (2-5) from deep, and three rebounds.

Courtney Vandersloot totaled 12 points on 50% (5-10) shooting from the floor, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Sabrina Ionescu added nine points, a postseason career-high-tying 11 assists, three rebounds, and two blocks. Of her game-high 11 assists, a postseason career-high eight of them came in the first half.

For Las Vegas, Kelsey Plum finished with a game-high 29 points, two assists, and two rebounds, while A'ja Wilson recorded a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double.

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