New York Liberty fell to the Atlanta Dream
New York Liberty (5-2) fell to the Atlanta Dream on Saturday afternoon at Barclay’s Center. Despite coming back from down as many as 13 points and forcing the game into overtime, the New York Liberty (5-2) fell to the Atlanta Dream (4-2), 87-90, in the team’s first home loss of the season.
After Atlanta’s 14-4 run to end the first quarter, New York outscored the Dream 28-21 to cut the visiting team’s 13-point lead to four before going into the locker room. With 4:47 remaining in the third, New York climbed back to tie the game at 58. A layup by Elizabeth Williams with 10.8 seconds remaining in the game, tied the contest at 82, forcing the game into overtime.
In overtime, scoring was even until Atlanta guard Courtney Williams connected on a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining to give the Dream a three-point lead, and ultimately, a victory in Brooklyn.
New York led by as many as three points and finished the game with 23 team assists. The team also totaled 9 steals and 36 rebounds. At home, New York finished on 39.1% from the field (season-low), 41.2% (14-34) from beyond the arc and 90.5% at the free throw line. There were four lead changes and 10 ties in today’s matchup.
For the seventh consecutive game, Betnijah Laney scored 20 or more points, finishing with 20 points, tied a career-high 11 assists and had a season-high six rebounds. The only Liberty player to record 20+ points in 6+ consecutive games is Tina Charles (longest streak of 9 games).
Laney is the first Liberty player to open a season with seven games of 20+ points. Throughout the league’s history, the record for the longest 20+ point streak to open a season is nine and is held by Cynthia Cooper (1999 season).
1999 Cooper, Cynthia, Hou. 9
2009 Jackson, Lauren, Sea. 8
2000 Swoopes, Sheryl, Hou. 8
2015 Delle Donne, Elena, Chi. 7
2021 Laney, Betnijah, N.Y. 7
Up Next: The New York Liberty will take on the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, June 3, at Barclays Center in their first matchup of the season.
PLAYER NOTABLES
Rookie Michaela Onyenwere broke out for a career-high 29 points, shooting 10-22 (45.5%) from the field, 6-14 from three (42.9%), and 3-3 at the line, while also grabbing 5 rebounds over 39:25 minutes. Michaela’s 10 field goals, six triples, five rebounds, and 39+ minutes were also career bests.
For the seventh consecutive game, the Liberty’s leading scorer Betnijah Laney (20) scored in double figures for New York. Laney recorded a season-high 11 assists (tied career-high) and six rebounds on the afternoon.
Liberty guard Sami Whitcomb recorded a season-high 19 points, just three points shy of her career high (22). Whitcomb shot 6-8 from the field (75.0%) and 5-7 from deep (71.4), both of which were season-highs. Sami also extended her streak of 3+ three-point field goals made to five games.
Courtney Williams led the Dream across scoring, rebounding and assists with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists; converting on the game-winning three with 1.5 left in the overtime period.
