DALLAS — The Liberty looked so much better to start Friday’s game against the Wings than the last time they were at College Park Center.
The ball was humming and the team was in sync. The Liberty’s starters scored 42 of the team’s 50 points in the first half and led by 16 at the break.
But Sandy Brondello can’t be thrilled by what happened in the second half.
New York’s complacency reared its ugly head in the third quarter and at one point in the fourth.
The game got too close — at least for a moment — but the Liberty managed to survive, beating Dallas 88-77.
“We know the game is a game of runs,” said Leonie Fiebich, who finished with 14 points before fouling out late in the fourth for the first time in her WNBA career. “So they went on theirs and then we kind of fell back. Luckily, we have really experienced players that make big plays in the right moments and that’s what we relied on.”
The Wings, who were without star rookie Paige Bueckers (back), outscored the Liberty 23-14 in the third quarter and cut New York’s 18-point lead down to three at one point.
But the Liberty, led by Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, and Fiebich got it together early in the fourth and managed to keep the Wings at bay to capture their third straight win and Brondello’s 100th win with the Liberty.
Emma Meesseman helped the Liberty get off to a strong start. In the first half, she had 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot. She faded in the second half.
The Liberty had six players finish with 10 or more points, including Fiebich who fouled out late in the fourth but finished with 14 points.
New York (20-10) is set to host the Lynx Sunday in Brooklyn before embarking on a three-game road trip out west.
The WNBA announced Friday that the league is working with local and federal law enforcement and seeking potential arrests and prosecution of “anyone engaged in this conduct or otherwise involved in sponsoring this reckless and unacceptable behavior” after at least six sex toys have been tossed during games.
“The safety of everyone in our arenas remains a top priority,” a league spokesperson said.
The WNBA’s statement comes in the wake of a cryptocurrency group claiming responsibility for orchestrating the obscene acts.
The Liberty on Sunday are planning to induct Tari Phillips into the franchise’s illustrious Ring of Honor.
Phillips, who is second all time in rebounding for the franchise, will be the team’s first Ring of Honor induction since 2021 and will join seven other Liberty legends, including Teresa Weatherspoon, Becky Hammon and Vickie Johnson.
Brondello, who played during the same era as Phillips, believes it’s a well-deserved honor for the four-time All-Star.
“The New York teams were just tough, and that was what Tari brought,” Brondello said. “She was just tough. She was always rebounding, setting big screens, rolling, creating … you name it.”
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