Ionescu scores 100th career 3-pointer, leads Liberty past Dream
Sabrina Ionescu scored 21 and Natasha Howard had 19. Marine Johannes added 17 points as the New York Liberty defeated Atlanta Dream, 89-77, on Friday night.
The Liberty (8-10) made 16 3-pointers in a season record, including five by Ionescu (five by Johannes). Howard had 10 rebounds. Ionescu added nine rebounds and eight assists.
Ionescu, Crystal Dangerfield, and Sami Whitcomb opened the fourth period with 3-pointers. Howard scored the final four points in a 13-4 run that gave Liberty an 81-68 lead at 4:56. New York led by double figures the rest of play.
Ionescu scored her 100th career 3-pointer in the game.
100 career threes for <a href=”https://twitter.com/sabrina_i20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@sabrina_i20</a> 🤝 <a href=”https://t.co/xEA3ddC7qI”>pic.twitter.com/xEA3ddC7qI</a>
—@WNBA
The Liberty shot 56% in the first quarter and led 53-43 at the half. Atlanta was ahead by 63-59 at the end of the third quarter. Atlanta had 2:0 left in the quarter.
Atlanta (8-9) was led with 23 points by AD Durr. He scored them 23 in 29 minutes. Rhyne Howard scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Aari McDonald scored 12.
The Liberty led from the beginning. A 12-0 run gave them 17-4 lead with 4 minutes remaining in the first quarter. They led 33-16 after just one period. 33 points was a season-high in the first quarter.
Source: CBC Sports
