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tRY IT NOWSEATTLE — Breanna Stewart has been increasingly more vocal after the Liberty’s last two losses, calling out the reigning champions’ lackluster play.
The way New York had been playing, the team didn’t deserve to be considered the team with a target on its back. That designation now belongs to the Lynx, who have been the best team all season.
Then, on Friday, with the Liberty’s backs against the wall by a playoff-eager Storm team, Stewart, the maestro, showed out against her former club.
Stewart led by example in the Liberty’s gritty 84-76 win against the Storm.
She didn’t buckle despite a slow, frustrating start. Ultimately, Stewart stepped up when her team needed her the most.
Stewart scored 13 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter. She also put on a defensive clinic and blocked three shots in the final 10 minutes.
Stewart finished with seven rebounds, four assists and a whopping five blocks. She helped delay the Storm’s hopes of clinching a playoff spot for at least another day.
Nothing about Friday’s victory was easy for the Liberty.
Then again, for some odd reason, New York seems to like to make things more difficult on itself this season.
Alas, the Liberty found a way to overcome a nine-point second-half deficit and spoil the Storm’s chance to clinch a playoff spot Friday night.
Leonie Fiebich scored 21 points while Kennedy Burke added 13 off the bench.