(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Breanna Stewart Shines in Return as New York Liberty Edge Connecticut Sun 81-79
Breanna Stewart made a successful return from injury, scoring 19 points in just 21 minutes, to help the New York Liberty secure a thrilling 81-79 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Monday night.
Stewart, who had missed the last 13 games with a knee bone bruise, looked sharp and provided a much-needed boost for New York (23-15). She got solid support from Jonquel Jones, who added 18 points, while Sabrina Ionescu played a key role in crunch time.
The Liberty trailed 59-58 heading into the fourth quarter, but Jones hit a clutch three-pointer to shift momentum. A 9-0 run, sparked by Ionescu’s free throws and capped with an Emma Meesseman layup, gave New York a commanding 74-66 lead with under four minutes left.
The Sun (9-28) refused to back down, cutting the deficit to just two points after Aaliyah Edwards hit late free throws. In the final moments, Stewart’s turnover gave Connecticut a chance, but Ionescu hustled back on defense and stripped Leila Lacan with 2.2 seconds remaining to secure the win.
For Connecticut, Aneesah Morrow stood out with a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to extend their winning streak, which ended at three games.
