7.25.23

Loyd scores 32 while Magbegor puts up historic numbers in tough defeat

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – For 24 minutes on Tuesday night, the Seattle Storm had New York’s high-powered offense locked down and bottled up inside the Barclays Center.

That, however, still left the Liberty with 16 minutes to wiggle free – and they did.

Jewell Loyd scored 32 points, and Ezi Magbegor logged a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds, but Seattle saw an 18-point third-quarter lead melt away as New York came back for an 86-82 victory.

The Storm (4-19) had a 55-37 lead with 5:55 left in the third quarter. At that moment, Loyd had 24 points, Magbegor had 13, and Seattle was shooting exactly 50 percent from the field (22-of-44).

But the Liberty (17-5), who racked up a WNBA record 44 first-quarter points in Sunday’s 101-83 homecourt rout of Indiana, outscored the Storm the rest of the way, 49-27. Seattle, which lost its 10^th straight, hit just 8-of-26 during the final 16 minutes.

Loyd had her seventh 30-plus point game of the season. But after draining 8-of-13 during the first half, New York limited her to just 1-of-10 through the final 20 minutes, and the one make came in the dying seconds with the Liberty having a three-possession lead.

Magbegor had a solid all-around performance, coming within two points of her career scoring high. She hit 9-of-15 from the field, adding five assists, three blocked shots and three steals. The double-double was her seventh of the season and 10^th of her career. In addition, she becomes the first player in WNBA history with 22+ points, 12+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 3+ blocks, and 3+ steals in a game.

Sami Whitcomb, in her second start of the year, had 11 points for Seattle, also chipping in six assists, five rebounds, and two steals.

Up 45-35 at halftime, the Storm, added another seven points to that advantage to begin the third quarter as they kept the Liberty off the board for the first 3:48 before Breanna Stewart hit a 10-footer from straight in front. Gabby Williams answered with a 3-pointer, and Seattle had its 18-point bulge.

That’s when New York started on a 17-5 offensive surge, getting within 60-54 heading into the fourth quarter. Stewart’s turnaround shot from the right side of the foul line put the Liberty up 74-72 with 2:51 left, but Whitcomb answered immediately with a deep 3-pointer from the left side for a 75-74 Storm lead.

A pair of Sabrina Ionescu free throws were answered by a driving banker from Whitcomb for a 77-76 Seattle lead with 90 seconds left. New York tallied the next six points in a row, starting with desperation 3-pointer by Jonquel Jones from the top of the key that somehow banked in with 1:16 remaining, and stayed in front through the finish.

Seattle bolted to an 8-0 lead, with Loyd accounting for the last six of those on back-to-back 3-pointers. The Liberty eventually got untracked after missing their first four shots. But the Storm, thanks to a fast-break lay-in by Loyd off a feed from Whitcomb, had a 26-21 advantage by the end of the first quarter. That was their first lead after one since June 24 in a 97-74 victory against Phoenix.

A 9-2 scoring run at the outset of the second quarter gave New York a 30-28 edge. Seattle answered with nine-straight points on a lay-in by Magbegor, a putback by Mercedes Russell, another Magbegor lay-in, and a Loyd 3-pointer to go up 37-30. That was part of a 17-5 run to build its 10-point halftime margin.

All five Liberty starters finished in double-figure scoring, led by Stewart’s 22. Ionescu logged a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists, the fourth triple-double of her career.

The Storm was without the services of rookie forward Jordan Horston, who missed the game for personal reasons.

Seattle continues its three-game road trip Friday, facing the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Tip-off is schedule for 5:00 p.m. PT.