Breanna Stewart's 30 Points Propel Liberty to Comeback Victory Over Fever

NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart showcased her scoring prowess by netting 30 points and sinking 18 of 21 free throws, leading the New York Liberty to an 83-75 victory against the Indiana Fever on Saturday evening. With this win, the Liberty improved their record to 7-4, marking their fourth consecutive triumph despite facing a double-digit deficit in the latter stages of the game.

Trailing 66-62 in the fourth quarter, New York launched a decisive 19-4 run to turn the game around. Stewart was pivotal during this stretch, making 11 of her 12 free throw attempts. Her critical free throws at the 3:36 mark put the Liberty ahead 70-68, while Paulina Astier contributed with two layups to lock down the victory in the closing minutes. Overall, the Liberty converted 33 out of 40 attempts from the charity stripe.

Star guard Sabrina Ionescu remained sidelined due to back soreness and has only participated in one game this season. Although she practiced on Friday, coach Chris DeMarco noted that she experienced some discomfort afterward. This practice session was the first time the Liberty had all players together this season.

Caitlin Clark put forth a commendable effort for Indiana (5-5), recording 10 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, while Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 21 points. Indiana had a strong start, turning a three-point halftime lead into a 57-45 advantage late in the third quarter. However, the Liberty rallied back, concluding the period with the final 10 points, including a free throw by Stewart just before the fourth quarter commenced, following a technical foul on Aliyah Boston.

Looking ahead, the Fever will face off against Washington on Monday night, while the Liberty will head to Connecticut for their next matchup.