In the back of 21 issues and a WNBA Finals-record seven steals by way of Breanna Stewart, the host New York Liberty evened the rating in opposition to the Minnesota Lynx within the championship sequence, profitable Sport 2 80-66 on Sunday afternoon in entrance of 18,046 enthusiasts — a listing crowd for ladies’s basketball on the Barclays Heart.
Stewart additionally had 8 rebounds and 5 assists whilst capturing 7-of-18 from the ground in a stat-stuffing efficiency.
New York additionally were given a breakout efficiency from Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who had her first 20-point day out since July 6 and simply her fourth general of the season. The ninth-year ahead shot 8-of-14 from the ground, together with 4-of-6 from 3-point land, and likewise had two rebounds and two assists.
The Liberty, who tied up the best-of-five sequence at 1-1, additionally were given 14 issues and 9 rebounds from Jonquel Jones and 15 issues and 5 assists from Sabrina Ionescu.
Minnesota — which can host Sport 3 on Wednesday in Minneapolis — was once led by way of 16 issues from Napheesa Collier, 15 issues from Courtney Williams and 14 issues from Alanna Smith.
Just like Sport 1, the Liberty constructed a large lead early. Not like the sequence opener, despite the fact that, they did not utterly blow it.
New York led 31-21 after the primary quarter, powered by way of 12 issues and two assists from Ionescu. In the second one body, the Liberty grew their result in as many as 17 issues with a 15-8 run that was once capped off by way of a 3-pointer from Laney-Hamilton.
The Lynx began chipping away in the second one part.
With 3:40 left to play, Minnesota trimmed the deficit to 2 issues when Williams sliced throughout the middle of the protection for a layup. However at the subsequent ownership, Laney-Hamilton replied with authority, swishing a 3-pointer from the left wing. After a Stewart unfastened throw, Leonie Fiebich then knocked down a wide-open 3-pointer — her best issues of the sport — in transition to push New York’s lead again to 9 issues with 90 seconds ultimate.
A large distinction between the 2 groups was once 3-point capturing, the place the Liberty knocked down 11 photographs from at the back of the arc on 24 makes an attempt, whilst the Lynx shot 6-of-20.
The Liberty additionally gained the rebounding struggle 34-27 and scored 26 issues off 20 Minnesota turnovers.
–Box Stage Media
