Liberty Conjure Thrilling, OT Comeback vs Mystics

It took a while for the New York Liberty to erase an early, large deficit, but late heroics from Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot, and Breanna Stewart paved the way to a thrilling victory over the Washington Mystics.

NEW YORK-When the Washington Mystics seemed poised to place a curse upon the New York Liberty, the women of seafoam had the perfect counterspells: Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot.

Having given up the first 13 points of Mystics' visit to Barclays Center and falling behind as much as 17 in the first period, the Liberty's star-spangled trio put up clutch efforts in an 89-88 overtime victory on Sunday afternoon at Barclays Center. Ionescu scored 31 points while Vandersloot hit a regulation-closing drive to force an extra period, which ended with a clutch and-one tally that gave New York (9-3) a slim yet permanent lead.

Sunday's time was the Liberty's first in an overtime game since July 2018 and its first on a homecourt since September 2015. New York also kept pace for the right to be the Eastern Conference's representative in the Commissioner's Cup in-season competition after the Connecticut Sun bested Chicago earlier in the afternoon.

After free throw shooting allowed the Liberty to cut the Mystics' early lead to manageable 10 points after 10 minutes (sustained mostly by free throws after shooting just 3-of-17 in the opening frame), they once again used outside shooting to their advantage. Ionescu and Betnijah Laney (17 points) united for 11 triples, with five of the former's seven coming in the second half and overtime.

Washington (8-5) had previously bestowed the Liberty an opening night shellacking in the nation's capital back on May 19. Ariel Atkins had 24 points in defeat as one of four Mystics starters to reach double figures. The exception was Shakira Austin, who left the game in the third quarter due to a hip injury that required a Washington trainer and player to carry her off the floor.

The Liberty now embark upon a three-game road trip, one that begins on Tuesday night against the aforementioned Sun (7 p.m. ET, YES/NBA TV).

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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