Han Xu scores career-high 19 points as Liberty get past Sky 85-66

NEW YORK (AP) — Han Xu scored a career-high 19 points and the New York Liberty bounced back from a blowout loss to defeat the Chicago Sky 85-66 on Saturday.

The Liberty, held to their season-low point total in a 79-60 loss to Golden State on Friday, turned it around against Chicago, making 11 3-pointers and 20 of 22 free throws.

Breanna Stewart had 13 points and nine rebounds for New York (24-16). Leonie Fiebich, Rebekah Gardner and Jonquel Jones added 11 points each.

Natasha Cloud scored 14 points and Sydney Taylor had 13 for Chicago (15-25).

New York scored the last 10 points of the first quarter and led 21-11 heading to the second. A 3-pointer by Leonie Fiebich stretched the lead to 15 points five minutes into the quarter and the Liberty went on to lead 42-28 at halftime. They extended their lead to 20 points late in the third quarter and led 60-43 heading to the fourth.

Han scored seven points in the final period to pass her career high of 17 set Aug. 1 in a 94-92 victory over Phoenix. The 6-foot-11 center from China is averaging 6.1 points per game after returning to the WNBA this season. She last played in the league in 2023.

She made 6 of 8 shots, including 2 of 3 3-pointers, and went 5-for-5 at the free-throw line.

The Sky defeated the Liberty 93-86 in their last matchup, on Aug. 18.

Up next

The league has four games scheduled for Sunday before breaking for the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany. WNBA play resumes on Sept. 17.

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See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

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