Liberty Ends Losing Streak in Emma Meesseman's Debut
UNCASVILLE—The New York Liberty finally found daylight against the Connecticut Sun.
Sabrina Ionescu first double-double of the season and Emma Meesseman's awaited debut helped end the Liberty's longest losing streak in three calendar years, as New York avenged a Friday defeat to the Connecticut Sun with an 87-78 victory on Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
New York (18-10) had dropped four in a row entering Sunday's game and was able to salvage a four-game road trip with the closing victory, one earned without the contributing triumvirate of Kennedy Burke, Nyara Sabally, and Breanna Stewart. It was also a milestone win for the Liberty, who become the fourth team to win 500 regular season games.
Ionescu paired a season-best 36 points with 11 rebounds, the former tally opening with 16 of the Liberty's 25 points in the opening period alone. Jonquel Jones was behind her with 21 points and a board short of joining Ionescu in the double-double sisterhood. Perhaps most shockingly, Ionescu's output came with only one three-pointer from her historic hands capable of miracles from deep.
Granted entry into the Liberty starting lineup less than 48 hours after her signing was made official, Meesseman worked off the rust in the first half before scoring each of her 11 tallies over the latter 20 to keep the pesky Sun at bay.
As Meesseman found her footing, the Liberty took what became a permanent lead with a run of nine straight tallies to close out the first period. Connecticut, however, refused to fully yield, keeping up a brand of physical that once against forced excessive turnovers (22) from the Liberty's hands.
Despite several legitimate chases at the lead, though, Connecticut did not closer than four, that deficit earned when Tina Charles hit a three at the onset of the second half. From there, New York began to take control after Meesseman finally got on the board through free throws earned through a Bria Hartley flagrant.
Further antics from Ionescu established an impenetrable double-figure lead and Jones joined her for the closer: the Liberty's top two stars combined for 15 of the 21 tallies over the last 10 to seal the deal.
Connecticut (5-22) was led by 17 points from Liberty legend Charles. The Sun, which took a 78-62 win over the Liberty on Friday night, will have a chance to split the season's quartet on Aug. 25 in Brooklyn.
In the meantime, the Liberty have another chance to take revenge on Tuesday night when they return for the first half of a home-and-home against the Dallas Wings (7 p.m. ET, WWOR). Dallas previously downed the Liberty in Arlington on Monday night by a 92-82 decision in a game they led by as much as 30.
Geoff Magliocchetti is a veteran sportswriter who contributes to a variety of sites on the "On SI" network. In addition to the Yankees/Mets, Geoff also covers the New York Knicks, New York Liberty, and New York Giants and has previously written about the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Staten Island Yankees, and NASCAR.