New York Liberty rookie guard Pauline Astier piloted the offense down the stretch, and Breanna Stewart fueled a second-half comeback that amounted in an 83-75 win over the Indiana Fever on Saturday at Barclays Center in Commissioner’s Cup play.
The Fever led for most of the first half and by as many as nine points in the opening two quarters, and that's despite Clark struggling early. She was 0 of 5 from the floor in the first quarter and didn't make her first field goal until more than three minutes into the second frame.
Although Liberty guard Marine Johannes drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the game's infancy, New York quickly went cold from downtown. In fact, head coach Chris DeMarco's team, which came in third in the WNBA with a 36.8% clip from 3, missed 16 of its 18 long-range attempts, clocking out with its fewest-made 3s in a game since 2022.
Indiana received a sizable boost from forward Monique Billings. She went scoreless in the Fever's previous two outings. This time around, though, she piled up a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Billings helped the Fever create separation late in the first quarter after the score was knotted 15-15. Five quick points from the veteran did the trick.
Indiana entered the second quarter with a four-point advantage. The Fever remained in control as Clark started to find her footing as a scorer. She knocked down her patented step-back 3 midway through the frame.
The Fever led for most of the first half and by as many as nine points in the opening two quarters, and that's despite Clark struggling early. She was 0 of 5 from the floor in the first quarter and didn't make her first field goal until more than three minutes into the second frame.
Although Liberty guard Marine Johannes drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the game's infancy, New York quickly went cold from downtown. In fact, head coach Chris DeMarco's team, which came in third in the WNBA with a 36.8% clip from 3, missed 16 of its 18 long-range attempts, clocking out with its fewest-made 3s in a game since 2022.
Indiana received a sizable boost from forward Monique Billings. She went scoreless in the Fever's previous two outings. This time around, though, she piled up a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Billings helped the Fever create separation late in the first quarter after the score was knotted 15-15. Five quick points from the veteran did the trick.
Indiana entered the second quarter with a four-point advantage. The Fever remained in control as Clark started to find her footing as a scorer. She knocked down her patented step-back 3 midway through the frame.
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