“We had a couple of days to mentally prepare for this game and put the pressure back on Connecticut,” said Stephane Dolson of the New York Liberty. The first quarter saw a fiery start with Sabrina Ionescu hitting a 3-pointer for New York, setting the tone for an exciting game. Tiffany Hayes of the Sun showed her driving prowess, but New York’s Betnijah Laney and Breanna Stewart quickly responded, giving the Liberty a 10-point lead at 20-10. The Sun called a timeout to regroup, but New York continued to dominate, ending the first quarter with a commanding 32-14 lead.
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Photo By: Connecticut Sun Instagram.
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The second quarter witnessed the Sun mounting a comeback, closing the gap to 14 points at halftime with a score of 54-40. Has many witnessed Alyssa Thomas, the engine of the team, asked her teammates, “Does anyone want to play today?” Tiffany Hayes led the Sun’s scoring efforts with 11 points, while Alyssa Thomas contributed with eight points, four rebounds, and eight assists. The Liberty displayed impressive shooting, hitting 59% of their shots, while the Sun shot 44.4% from the field.
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As the third quarter commenced, Connecticut showed determination, cutting New York’s lead to 11 points. However, the Liberty managed to extend their lead back to 18 before the Sun fought back, closing the quarter 72-61. Alyssa Thomas continued to lead the charge for Connecticut with nine points, three rebounds, and four assists. In the final quarter, New York once again pulled ahead with an 8-2 run, securing a 92-81 victory over the Sun. Breanna Stewart was the standout performer for the Liberty, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks.
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“In the post-game, Olivia Nelson-Ododa of the Connecticut Sun said, ‘We’re going to continue to fight and never give up!’ Coach Stephanie White added, ‘We got to be all in; it’s going to take all of us!'” New York’s Breanna Stewart said, “I don’t think we played our best basketball yet”. “Get ready for an exciting, thrilling matchup in the do-or-die Game 4 Sunday, October 1st, at 3 pm on ABC!”
