Johannes Hits the Dagger Three, Liberty Sweep the Lynx 87-71
Liberty 87, Lynx 71. Johannes hits the dagger three and New York sweeps the No. 1 seed.
Marine Johannes' fourth-quarter three helped New York pull away for an 87-71 win over Minnesota and a two-game sweep of the top seed. Her shot with 6:48 remaining made it 76-60, and Jonquel Jones followed with a three-point play.
New York never trailed and led 49-37 at halftime. Jones opened the night with the first five points, including a 23-footer. The paint told the story all night. New York scored 44 points inside to Minnesota's 28. Jones finished with 21 points and 13 boards. Breanna Stewart matched her with 21 and went a perfect 9-of-9 at the line. Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points and seven assists, including four threes.
Minnesota cut the lead to 11 early in the fourth, but Stewart, Johannes and Jones answered in succession. The Lynx never got close enough to threaten a deciding game.
Williams led the Lynx with 18 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Napheesa Collier had 14 and seven but picked up five fouls. McBride added 14. Minnesota shot 38 percent from the field and never found a lead. After a 91-75 Game 1 loss at home, this one in Brooklyn went the same way.
The No. 8 Liberty advanced after beating Minnesota by 16 in each game. Stewart led the opener; in Game 2, Jones' work inside and Johannes' two fourth-quarter threes helped finish the series.
Box score: ESPN.
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