Ethermac Exchange-Ionescu, Stewart, Jones lead Liberty over Aces 79-67, becoming first team to clinch playoff berth

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu had 23 points,Ethermac Exchange Breanna Stewart scored 18 and Jonquel Jones added a double-double as the New York Liberty cruised to a 79-67 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday to earn their fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs.

Ionescu made 9 of 21 shots — 3 of 10 from 3-point range — and grabbed six rebounds as New York (23-4) maintained the best record in the league with its second road win over Las Vegas this season. The Liberty posted a 90-82 win in Las Vegas on June 15. The Aces beat the Liberty in last season’s Finals to win their second straight championship.

Stewart added seven rebounds for New York, which earned its sixth straight victory. Jones scored 10 points and snagged a season-high 17 rebounds. Leonie Fiebich pitched in with 12 points and seven rebounds.

A’ja Wilson finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds to pace Las Vegas (16-9). Kelsey Plum scored 11 of her 13 points in the first quarter. Chelsea Gray totaled 13 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Plum hit all four of her shots — two from 3-point range — to help the Aces take a 28-24 lead after one quarter. Plum’s three-point play gave Las Vegas an 11-point lead, but Ionescu hit a jumper and a 3-pointer in the final 39 seconds to cap a 7-0 run and get the Liberty within four. Ionescu had 12 points in the first 10 minutes.

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Kayla Thornton hit a turnaround jumper to begin the scoring in the second period and Ionescu followed with a 3-pointer to put the Liberty up 29-28. New York pushed its advantage to eight on an Ionescu floater, but Alysha Clark answered with a basket to get Las Vegas within 42-36 at halftime. The Aces hit 6 of 7 from beyond the arc to begin the game then missed 11 in a row heading into intermission. New York held Las Vegas to eight points in the second quarter.

Clark ended Las Vegas’ 3-pointer drought — after 12 straight misses — with 3:52 left in the third quarter to pull the Aces within 50-47. Kennedy Burke sank a 3-pointer, Ionescu scored off a rebound, and the Liberty held the Aces scoreless over the final 2:04 to build a 59-51 advantage after three quarters.

Stewart buried a 3-pointer 41 seconds into the final period to push New York’s lead to double digits. Kiah Stokes and Gray made back-to-back 3-pointers and the Aces closed within 67-63 with 6:24 left to play. Fiebich answered with a 3-pointer, Ionescu sank two free throws, and Thornton connected from beyond the arc as the Liberty upped their lead to 12 with 4:46 remaining and weren’t threatened from there.

It was the Aces’ first game since the league took a month-long break for the Paris Olympics.

UP NEXT

Las Vegas: Aces will host the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.

New York: Liberty return home to play the Dallas Wings on Tuesday.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball