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Streak over: Clark has 32 as Liberty lose first game

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basketball.com.au

Highlights

Liberty stumble as Indiana's Caitlin Clark drops 32 on defending WNBA champions

Indiana Fever (5-5) defeated New York Liberty (9-1) 102-88 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Caitlin Clark's 32-point performance handed the Liberty their first loss of the season.

Key Details

By the Numbers

  • Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever) starred with 32 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, one steal, and two blocks in 31 minutes.
  • Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty) scored 34 points, had two rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 38 minutes.

What Happened

The first quarter began with both teams trading baskets, as New York established a slight 26-24 advantage. The momentum shifted in the second quarter when Indiana outscored the Liberty 29-24 to take a 53-50 lead into halftime.

Indiana maintained control throughout the third quarter, outscoring New York 27-21 behind Caitlin Clark's efficient shooting from beyond the arc. The rookie connected on seven three-pointers for the game, showcasing her range and court vision as she propelled the Fever to an 80-71 lead heading into the final period.

With six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Clark's three-pointer extended Indiana's lead to 15 points, effectively putting the game out of reach. Despite Ionescu's valiant 34-point effort, the Liberty couldn't mount a comeback as Indiana closed out the 14-point victory with a 22-17 fourth-quarter advantage.

Clark's historic performance included 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, falling just one assist shy of a triple-double. The rookie also added two blocks and demonstrated tremendous efficiency, shooting 11-from-20 from the field including 7-from-14 from three-point range. However, she did commit seven turnovers against New York's pressure defense.

For the Liberty, Ionescu carried the offensive load with 34 points on 11-from-20 shooting, but received little support from her teammates. Stewart added 24 points but no other Liberty player reached double figures. The Liberty's typically reliable three-point shooting abandoned them as they connected on just 6-from-29 (20.7%) from beyond the arc.

Indiana's balanced attack featured four players in double figures, with Kelsey Mitchell adding 22 points on 9-from-21 shooting. The Fever shot an outstanding 48.6% (17-from-35) from three-point range compared to New York's dismal 20.7%, which proved to be the difference in the contest.

The loss dropped the Liberty to 9-1, ending their perfect start to the season, while Indiana improved to 5-5 and gained valuable ground in the playoff race.

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