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Leonie Fiebich scores a career-high 21 and the Liberty beat the Dream 83-69 in Game 1
NEW YORK (AP) Leonie Fiebich hit four 3-pointers and scored a career-high 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, Breanna Stewart added 20 points and 11 rebounds and the New York Liberty never trailed Sunday in their 83-69 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
New York can sweep the best-of-three series with a win Tuesday in New York. Game 3, if necessary, is Thursday in Atlanta.
The Liberty - who made each of their first six field-goal attempts, including four 3-pointers - jumped to a 13-4 lead. Allisha Gray was fouled on a jumper and hit the and-1 free throw to cut Atlanta's deficit to four with 5:33 left in the first quarter, but the Liberty scored the next 14 points - the final seven by Sabrina Ionescu - to take an 18-point lead. The Dream went scoreless for more than four minutes before Tina Charles hit a fade-away jumper to spark a 7-2 spurt that trimmed their deficit to 29-16 going into the second quarter.
New York made 8 of 11 from the field, 5 of 6 from the 3-point range and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line while outrebounding the Dream 11-3 in the first period. Atlanta, which shot 35.3% (6 of 17) and went 0 for 6 from behind the arc, trailed by double figures for the final 33-plus minutes.
Rhyne Howard scored 14 points and Charles added 12 for Atlanta.
The Dream beat New York 78-67 on Thursday in the regular-season finale to clinch the eighth and final playoff spot - and a date with the top-seeded Liberty in the first round. Atlanta shot 50% (31 of 62) from the field.
Fiebich scored 15 points - one shy of the rookie's season high - on perfect shooting in the first half, making 5 of 5 from the field, 2 of 2 from behind the arc and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. Ionescu added 14 points and New York took a 48-30 lead into halftime.
The Liberty, who seek their first WNBA championship, made their fifth WNBA Finals appearance last season but lost 3-1 to the Las Vegas Aces.
New York's Courtney Vandersloot had four points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Ionescu finished with 17 points and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton scored 10 for the Liberty.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 |  | Start of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Jump Ball: Jonquel Jones vs. Tina Charles. | ||
| 9:42 | | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 0-2 |
| 9:15 |  | +2 | Tina Charles makes a hook shot from 9 feet out. Rhyne Howard with the assist. | 2-2 |
| 9:06 | | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 2-5 |
| 8:43 | | Allisha Gray misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | ||
| 8:43 | | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:35 | | +3 | Breanna Stewart makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 2-8 |
| 8:09 | | Rhyne Howard misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 8:09 | | Naz Hillmon with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:55 | | +2 | Naz Hillmon makes a layup. Jordin Canada with the assist. | 4-8 |
| 7:30 | | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a jump shot from 7 feet out. | 4-10 |
| 7:01 | | Breanna Stewart blocks a Rhyne Howard 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 7:01 | | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:50 | | +3 | Leonie Fiebich makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 4-13 |
| 6:47 | | Dream take a full timeout. | ||
| 6:32 | | Jordin Canada misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 6:32 | | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:14 | | Rhyne Howard steals the ball from Jonquel Jones. | ||
| 6:05 | | Jordin Canada misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 6:05 | | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:58 | | Rhyne Howard steals the ball from Sabrina Ionescu. | ||
| 5:55 | | Shooting foul committed by Jonquel Jones. | ||
| 5:55 | | +1 | Rhyne Howard makes free throw 1 of 2. | 5-13 |
| 5:55 | | +1 | Rhyne Howard makes free throw 2 of 2. | 6-13 |
| 5:46 | | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 5:34 | | +2 | Allisha Gray makes a jump shot from 23 feet out. | 8-13 |
| 5:33 | | Shooting foul committed by Sabrina Ionescu. | ||
| 5:33 | | +1 | Allisha Gray makes free throw 1 of 1. | 9-13 |
| 5:21 | | Personal foul committed by Tina Charles. | ||
| 5:15 | | +3 | Leonie Fiebich makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 9-16 |
| 4:45 | | Dream with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | ||
| 4:30 | | Shooting foul committed by Jordin Canada. | ||
| 4:30 | | +1 | Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-17 |
| 4:30 | | Substitution: Nia Coffey in for Naz Hillmon. | ||
| 4:30 | | +1 | Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2. | 9-18 |
| 4:22 | | Personal foul committed by Jonquel Jones. | ||
| 4:22 | | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Jonquel Jones. | ||
| 4:22 | | Substitution: Courtney Vandersloot in for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | ||
| 4:18 | | Leonie Fiebich steals the ball from Jordin Canada. | ||
| 4:16 | | Jump Ball: Rhyne Howard vs. Leonie Fiebich. | ||
| 4:16 | | Rhyne Howard steals the ball from Leonie Fiebich. | ||
| 4:07 | | Tina Charles misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | ||
| 4:07 | | Courtney Vandersloot with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:59 | | Courtney Vandersloot with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 3:44 | | Courtney Vandersloot steals the ball from Jordin Canada. | ||
| 3:39 | | Shooting foul committed by Allisha Gray. | ||
| 3:39 | | +1 | Leonie Fiebich makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-19 |
| 3:39 | | +1 | Leonie Fiebich makes free throw 2 of 2. | 9-20 |
| 3:29 | | Personal foul committed by Nyara Sabally. | ||
| 3:27 | | Allisha Gray misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 3:27 | | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:12 | | Shooting foul committed by Nia Coffey. | ||
| 3:12 | | +1 | Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-21 |
| 3:12 | | +1 | Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 2 of 2. | 9-22 |
| 2:53 | | Tina Charles misses a hook shot from 7 feet out. | ||
| 2:53 | | Nyara Sabally with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:36 | | Nyara Sabally misses a layup. | ||
| 2:36 | | Nyara Sabally with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 2:29 | | Offensive foul committed by Nyara Sabally. | ||
| 2:29 | | Nyara Sabally with a turnover | ||
| 2:29 | | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Leonie Fiebich. | ||
| 2:29 | | Substitution: Ezinne Kalu in for Jordin Canada. | ||
| 2:29 | | Substitution: Kennedy Burke in for Nyara Sabally. | ||
| 2:12 | | Nia Coffey misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 2:12 | | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:07 | | Personal foul committed by Ezinne Kalu. | ||
| 2:07 | | +1 | Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-23 |
| 2:07 | | +1 | Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 2 of 2. | 9-24 |
| 1:58 | | Rhyne Howard misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 1:58 | | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:34 | | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 31 feet out. Kayla Thornton with the assist. | 9-27 |
| 1:13 | | +2 | Tina Charles makes a jump shot from 11 feet out. | 11-27 |
| 4:07 | | Tina Charles misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | ||
| 1:01 | | Tina Charles with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 45.6 | | +2 | Allisha Gray makes a layup. | 13-27 |
| 45.6 | | Shooting foul committed by Breanna Stewart. | ||
| 45.6 | | Substitution: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in for Sabrina Ionescu. | ||
| 45.6 | | +1 | Allisha Gray makes free throw 1 of 1. | 14-27 |
| 40.5 | | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. Courtney Vandersloot with the assist. | 14-29 |
| 19.2 | | +2 | Tina Charles makes a layup. Rhyne Howard with the assist. | 16-29 |
| 19.2 | | Shooting foul committed by Kennedy Burke. | ||
| 19.2 | | Tina Charles misses free throw 1 of 1. | ||
| 19.2 | | Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 03.8 | | Rhyne Howard blocks a Breanna Stewart layup. | ||
| 03.8 | | Allisha Gray with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | Allisha Gray misses a 3-point jump shot from 46 feet out. | ||
| 0.0 | | Dream with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 1st Quarter |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | | Start of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 9:37 | | Nia Coffey misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | ||
| 9:37 | | Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:17 | | Courtney Vandersloot misses a layup. | ||
| 9:17 | | Rhyne Howard with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:08 | | +2 | Tina Charles makes a jump shot from 18 feet out. Ezinne Kalu with the assist. | 18-29 |
| 8:51 | | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a layup. | 18-31 |
| 8:44 | | Personal foul committed by Courtney Vandersloot. | ||
| 8:44 | | Substitution: Naz Hillmon in for Rhyne Howard. | ||
| 8:44 | | Substitution: Maya Caldwell in for Nia Coffey. | ||
| 8:33 | | Ezinne Kalu misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | ||
| 8:33 | | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:22 | | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a jump shot from 6 feet out. | ||
| 8:22 | | Tina Charles with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:06 | | +2 | Tina Charles makes a layup. Allisha Gray with the assist. | 20-31 |
| 7:49 | | Kennedy Burke misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 7:49 | | Tina Charles with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:40 | | Tina Charles with a turnover - Traveling | ||
| 7:40 | | Substitution: Leonie Fiebich in for Kennedy Burke. | ||
| 7:40 | | Substitution: Breanna Stewart in for Kayla Thornton. | ||
| 7:40 | | Substitution: Sabrina Ionescu in for Courtney Vandersloot. | ||
| 7:40 | | Substitution: Jordin Canada in for Ezinne Kalu. | ||
| 7:31 | | Substitution: Rhyne Howard in for Allisha Gray. | ||
| 7:24 | | +2 | Leonie Fiebich makes a jump shot from 21 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 20-33 |
| 7:01 | | Rhyne Howard misses a layup. | ||
| 7:01 | | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:51 | | +2 | Leonie Fiebich makes a layup. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 20-35 |
| 6:51 | | Shooting foul committed by Naz Hillmon. | ||
| 6:51 | | +1 | Leonie Fiebich makes free throw 1 of 1. | 20-36 |
| 6:16 | | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton steals the ball from Jordin Canada. | ||
| 6:08 | | Jonquel Jones with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 5:49 | | Rhyne Howard misses a layup. | ||
| 5:49 | | Dream with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 5:46 | | Official's timeout. | ||
| 5:46 | | Substitution: Allisha Gray in for Maya Caldwell. | ||
| 5:44 | | Dream with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | ||
| 5:24 | | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a layup. | ||
| 5:24 | | Naz Hillmon with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:14 | | +2 | Tina Charles makes a hook shot from 8 feet out. Jordin Canada with the assist. | 22-36 |
| 4:53 | | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 4:53 | | Allisha Gray with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:46 | | +2 | Naz Hillmon makes a layup. Allisha Gray with the assist. | 24-36 |
| 4:46 | | Shooting foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | ||
| 4:46 | | +1 | Naz Hillmon makes free throw 1 of 1. | 25-36 |
| 4:29 | | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 25-38 |
| 4:22 | | Leonie Fiebich steals the ball from Naz Hillmon. | ||
| 4:18 | | +2 | Leonie Fiebich makes a layup. | 25-40 |
| 4:01 | | +2 | Naz Hillmon makes a layup. Jordin Canada with the assist. | 27-40 |
| 3:46 | | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 8 feet out. | ||
| 3:46 | | Rhyne Howard with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:31 | | +2 | Naz Hillmon makes a layup. Rhyne Howard with the assist. | 29-40 |
| 3:30 | | Liberty take a full timeout. | ||
| 3:30 | | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Jonquel Jones. | ||
| 3:15 | | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. | 29-42 |
| 2:51 | | Tina Charles misses a jump shot from 7 feet out. | ||
| 2:51 | | Nyara Sabally with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:39 | | Rhyne Howard blocks a Sabrina Ionescu layup. | ||
| 2:39 | | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 2:35 | | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 29-44 |
| 2:23 | | Breanna Stewart steals the ball from Jordin Canada. | ||
| 2:19 | | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a layup. Leonie Fiebich with the assist. | 29-46 |
| 2:16 | | Dream take a full timeout. | ||
| 2:16 | | Substitution: Maya Caldwell in for Jordin Canada. | ||
| 2:01 | | Allisha Gray misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | ||
| 2:01 | | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:38 | | Rhyne Howard blocks a Nyara Sabally layup. | ||
| 1:38 | | Rhyne Howard with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:38 | | Nyara Sabally steals the ball from Rhyne Howard. | ||
| 1:33 | | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a jump shot from 18 feet out. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 29-48 |
| 1:20 | | Personal foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | ||
| 1:20 | | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | ||
| 1:11 | | Tina Charles misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | ||
| 1:11 | | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 52.5 | | Kayla Thornton misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 52.5 | | Tina Charles with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 46.5 | | Personal foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | ||
| 46.5 | | Allisha Gray misses free throw 1 of 2. | ||
| 46.5 | | Dream with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 46.5 | | Substitution: Courtney Vandersloot in for Leonie Fiebich. | ||
| 46.5 | | +1 | Allisha Gray makes free throw 2 of 2. | 30-48 |
| 33.3 | | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 33.3 | | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 28.9 | | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | ||
| 28.9 | | Rhyne Howard with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 08.4 | | Rhyne Howard misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. |