WASHINGTON — Sunday’s game between the Liberty and Washington Mystics wasn’t pretty.
But it was a win — albeit an all-around frustrating game for both sides.
The Liberty, despite the stop-and-go nature of the game and all the fouls, ultimately found a way to spoil the Mystics’ home opener, winning 98-93 in overtime.
The Liberty led for most of the game.
Cassandre Prosper’s go-ahead basket at the 7:58 mark of the fourth quarter gave the Mystics their first lead since early in the second.
The game then had five lead changes and five ties the rest of the way, forcing overtime.
New York was without Jonquel Jones after she fouled out with 3:25 left in the fourth and later Han Xu, who fouled out with 1:22 left in overtime.
Kiki Iriafen’s putback basket tied the game at 92 with 33.5 seconds left.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton made two free throws after Prosper fouled her on a layup with 29.6 seconds left.
Marine Johannès forced Sonia Citron into a turnover.
Pauline Astier sealed the Liberty’s win with two free throws, despite a “ref you suck” chant echoing throughout the arena.
Johannès continued her hot start, leading all scorers with 25 points after making six 3-pointers.
Breanna Stewart finished with 23 points and nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, Iriafen led the Mystics with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Liberty started Sunday’s game much like they did Friday’s season opener.
New York was having its way on offense, pulling ahead by seven near the midway mark of the first quarter.
Then, the Liberty hit a lull.
Defensively, New York’s rotations and closeouts were a step slow.
The Mystics fought their way back into the game, outscoring the Liberty 23-9 over the final 5:13 of the first quarter to take a seven-point lead heading into the second.
New York course-corrected. Johannès hit some timely 3s and the Liberty led by seven at halftime.
But a troubling trend is starting to emerge for the Liberty.
For the second consecutive game, New York was outscored in the third quarter.
The Mystics were relentless.
They kept driving to the basket, frustrating the Liberty on defense.
They made the Liberty take tough shots.
Sluggish starts to the second half were a problem last season.
The Liberty need to be more intentional with their third-quarter starts this season.
The game overall was clunky.
The Liberty were whistled for 31 personal fouls to the Mystics’ 27.
New York’s schedule isn’t particularly tough to start.
The Liberty torched the Connecticut Sun by 31 points in the season opener Friday.
They did enough to beat the young but blossoming Washington Mystics Sunday.
The Liberty head to Portland next, where they will play the Fire twice in three days before having a week off prior to their next home game.
