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DALLAS — Sabrina Ionescu had a tough night.
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tRY IT NOWShe generated good looks, her shot felt good, but nothing was falling.
Her shots were touching every part of the rim but rarely went in.
“The basketball gods were just not in my favor,” as Ionescu put it.
But when the game went to overtime, and the Liberty were in dire need of a win, she woke up and took over.
Ionescu scored 12 of the Liberty’s 16 points in overtime to help lead them to a thrilling 99-98 win Monday night against the Wings that snapped a four-game losing skid.
That’s the beauty of a shooter’s mentality.
There was never a doubt for Ionescu, who went 3-for-20 from the field for nine points through the first four quarters.
Shooting can be a numbers game.
She knew it was only a matter of time before they fell.
Better late than never, right?
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Ionescu rediscovered her shooting stroke to deliver a memorable overtime experience.
She went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field to capture a much-needed win.
Her 12 points tied a league record for most points scored in an overtime period.
“In overtime, when there was a new five [minutes], it was a chance to reset, to believe the next one’s in,” Ionescu said. “And it’s the shooter’s mentality you have to have.”
Indeed, one does.
The game had been postponed four days ago, when the Liberty had travel issues attempting to fly out of New York.
The game ended up being worth the wait.
The Liberty, for the second consecutive game, played a team on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Wings were also missing their best player, Paige Bueckers, who exited Sunday’s win against the Sparks after a collision.
Bueckers avoided a concussion but was listed out with rest, per the team.
The Liberty love a comeback.
This time, they finally were successful.
They needed this win badly.
For a good moment, it looked like they weren’t going to get it.
A bad third quarter almost ended the Liberty.
Their defense was strong, but they couldn’t buy a shot and were outscored 21-9.
But the Liberty rallied from down 12 near the midway point in the third to make it a close game down the stretch.
The game was sent to overtime after Arike Ogunbowale tied it up with 3.9 seconds left and the Wings then blew up what the Liberty tried to do on the final play of regulation.
From there, Ionescu delivered when her team needed her the most.
Ogunbowale gave the Liberty a scare when she put up what could’ve been a buzzer-beater.
Coach Chris DeMarco held his breath.
The shot was off the mark.
Game over.
Liberty win.
DeMarco could exhale.
“I don’t want to say relief,” Breanna Stewart said after the win. “The hardships and the struggles that we’ll go through this season aren’t over. But I would say this is obviously a success just because the way that we continue to stay at it.”
Though Ionescu will be remembered as the hero of this game, Breanna Stewart was the Liberty’s rock.
She put on yet another master class, finishing with 33 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
She got to the free-throw line late in the fourth quarter and pushed the Liberty back into the game.
Stewart had been annoyed after Saturday’s loss in Indiana, during which she missed five free throws and committed four turnovers.
But she continues to set the standard for her teammates.
They can count on her to deliver big performance after big performance.
This time she was finally rewarded with a win.
“Just doing whatever it takes and continuing to make sure that, when I’m on the court, I’m gonna make an impact,” Stewart said. “Just playing, not thinking but also trying to make the right play, controlling the intangibles. I’m gonna go out swinging whether we win or lose. I’m gonna put everything I got out there.”
