NEW YORK (AP) — Brianna Stewart rebounded from one of the worst games of her career with a stellar effort, scoring 28 points along with 14 rebounds and seven assists to lift the New York Liberty to an 89-71 win over the Phoenix Mercury, who were playing injury free Brittney Griner the day before. Sunday.
Grenier missed her second straight game with a groin injury she sustained against Seattle on Tuesday. The All-Star Center received a standing ovation from the crowd when a video of her was played the first time.
With Griner likely to play in her first game in New York since returning to the US after being held for 10 months in Russia last year, Liberty drew a crowd of 9,278.
Phoenix (2-8) also missed Diana Taurasi with a hamstring injury.
New York had its own injury problems as Sabrina Ionescu lost her second straight game with a hamstring injury. Even without Ionescu, Liberty (7-3) had more than enough to handle Mercury.
Stewart, who made just one of 14 field goal attempts on Tuesday in New York’s loss to Atlanta, was aggressive from the start. A group of shots hit from the inside and outside. She finished the first half with 23 points, giving New York a 53-34 lead over Phoenix.
Phoenix cut its 19-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to 72-64 with 6:01 left as Sophie Cunningham scored nine points during an 11-0 run.
Stewart ended New York’s drought by hitting a free throw and then Petya Laney made a jump shot to regain the double-digit advantage. Phoenix never threatened the rest of the way.
Cunningham finished with 27 points, leading the Mercury.