Liberty beat the Fever 109-102 as Fiebich returns with 20 points in her first game since July 3

NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and Leonie Fiebich, playing her first game since July 3, added 20 to help the New York Liberty beat the Indiana Fever 109-102 on Saturday night.

Jonquel Jones added 19 points and 10 rebounds for New York (23-15) in an entertaining game.

With the game tied at 100, Stewart made one of two free throws and then after Indiana missed, Fiebich had a basket and was fouled with 57.5 seconds. She missed the ensuing foul shot.

Caitlin Clark drove, but missed a running layup and Fiebich grabbed the rebound. Pauline Astier was fouled with 29.0 seconds left and hit both free throws to make it a five-point game.

Indiana (24-14) couldn’t recover.

Both teams knew how important this game was with playoff positioning at stake as the standings are so tight for the third through eighth spots. New York led by four at the half and then Sabrina Ionescu and Fiebich got going. The pair combined for 19 of the Liberty’s 31 points in the period as New York extended its lead to 85-78 heading into the fourth.

Indiana rallied to tie it on Kelsey Mitchell’s 3-pointer with 1:44 left. Mitchell finished with 25 points. Aliyah Boston had 22 and Clark 21.

New York finally had its full lineup healthy for the first time in nearly six weeks as Fiebich played her first game since suffering a foot injury. Jones was back after missing most of the Liberty’s last game against Chicago on Tuesday with a tweaked left ankle.

With Indiana visiting, there were rallies outside the arena before the game both for and against transgender women in sports. Fever reserve Sophie Cunningham had said in an ESPN profile published last month that she was opposed to transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports. Cunningham was met with a mixture of boos and cheers from the sellout crowd.

Jones got going early, as she’s done ever since the All-Star break. The Liberty’s 6-foot-6 center had 17 points and seven rebounds at the half as New York held a 53-49 advantage.

The Fever are in the middle of a brutal stretch of five road games in eight days. They have gone 2-2 so far.

Myisha Hines-Allen left the game in the final minute after getting injured. She was still being evaluated after the game according to the Fever.

Up next

Fever: Visit Chicago on Sunday to finish off a back-to-back and close out the long road trip

Liberty: Host Golden State on Thursday.

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