Amanda Zahui B.crushed her career-best in scoring with 37 points to give the New York Liberty a win on the road.
It's a TIE game heading into the 4th at the Staples Center. @AmandaZahuiB is having a game at 31 PTS. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/3xw7G1s0eD
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 16, 2019
Career night for @AmandaZahuiB ! 37 pts, 7 reb, 3 blk, 7-8 3PM❗️Way to play #LIBERTYLOUD?, Zahui!
Vote to send Zahui to All Star: https://t.co/UHpqS2f0bb pic.twitter.com/jKBWUMtACL
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 16, 2019
There were some big happenings on the Los Angeles basketball scene on Saturday night. Oh, and Anthony Davis also got traded to the Lakers.
While most of New York slept, their Liberty were making history and gaining redemption. Amanda Zahui B crushed her career-high in scoring with 37 points, while Kia Nurse helped out with 26 more. Their efforts helped the New York Liberty salvage an early road trip with a 98-92 win over the Los Angeles Sparks at the Staples Center.
Zahui B’s 37 points are good for the second-best scoring effort in Liberty history.
The victory was the Liberty’s first on the road after 18 straight fruitless treks. It also comes less than 24 hours after the Liberty dropped a brutal 100-65 decision in Las Vegas.
New York appeared headed to a similar fate in the early stages. Los Angeles jumped out to an early 15-6 lead behind scoring from Chiney Ogwumike and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt. But that’s when Zahui B. began to work her magic.
The Swedish-born center got the Liberty (3-5) back in the game with 10 first-quarter points. That helped them slice the Sparks lead to 19-17 by the time the period let out. Zahui B was nowhere near finished. She took down her personal scoring record in the second quarter, regaining an outside prescience she introduced last season. 14 more gave her 24 overall, breaking her prior personal-best of 21 set last season, also in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, however, wouldn’t make things easy. Ogwumike teamed up with her sister Nneka to wreak havoc for the home team. The siblings would combine for 46 points and 23 rebounds to help the Sparks (4-3) retain a small lead throughout the second half. A surprise hinderance to the Liberty cause was Tina Charles, who mustered only nine points on 4-of-17 shooting.
Once Zahui B got a little help in the late stages, the Liberty were well on their way to a win.
Nurse contributed all over the court, also earning seven rebounds and four assists. Her interior contributions got her to the foul line 16 times, where she sank all but one attempt. Her final shots allowed the Liberty to lock the game up. Those 15 successful singles are now good for the best in Liberty history.
They had previously taken the lead for good via the most appropriate fashion. Zahui B’s final points of the evening came via a deep triple that made it 90-88 just under the two-minute mark. Perhaps more impressive was her shooting numbers, as she sank 13-of-16 shots, including seven from three-point range, creating yet another career-high.
7-OF-8 FROM THREE-POINT LAND ??? @AmandaZahuiB pic.twitter.com/qpcqm8hQQV
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 16, 2019
Adding to the team effort was Brittany Boyd, who helped out with a career-high 12 assists. Even when held in check, Charles picked up 13 rebounds, including one that led to Zahui B’s monumental triple. She also managed to pass Katie Douglas for 13th place on the WNBA scoring list. Rookie Asia Durr reached double-figures in scoring for the fourth time in her career with 11.
12 assists on the night for @adifferent1five is a new career-high! Previous high was 11. pic.twitter.com/x20FMjKGBu
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 16, 2019
? @A_Hooper25 with the left-hand finish! pic.twitter.com/reEebHCuYd
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 16, 2019
The Liberty have now won three of their last four. They’ll look to keep the momentum going on Wednesday night as they welcome in the Chicago Sky to the Westchester County Center (7:00 p.m. ET, YES).
