Ruki Monon Akoa Makani scored a career-high 21 points, and Phoenix Merkari on Thursday night raised his winning streak in four matches with a win of 89–81 over New York Liberty, which was assigned his first domestic defeat this season.
Akoa Makani shot 8 -12 from the ground and crossed his previous 14 -point career in Seattle on 23 May. Elisa Thomas produced a double-dabble with 18 points and 15 rebels to go with seven assistance for Mercury (10–4), who faced a season-high 35 points from New York Star Breena Stewart.
Sami Whitcomb killed four 3s and 16 pairs for Phoenix, with 41.7 percent shooting. Satou sabally contributed 15 points and nine rebels, and Kitija Laksa stole in 13 points as Mercury shot 81.5 percent (22 -27) in the foul line and disappeared 24 out of 24 of 31 3 -points.
Stewart scored 18 points in the third, but helped a lot as Liberty (10–2) defeat for the second time in three matches. Sabrina INESCU added 16 points, but shot 3 -16 with 1 -10 from 3 -point range, as New York shot 42.6 percent and recalled 18 out of 18 attempts.
New York also lost Jonkal Jones for an ankle injury in the second quarter after whitcom steps on the leg under the basket.
Akoa Makani’s basket took the mercury 53-49 with 5:48, but Liberty continuously captured the Phoenix technical foul, and Stewart’s drive took him 55-54 leading a 5:21 lead.
The lead on a basket by Marine Johannes with 4:42 rose to 60–54, and New York settled for a 65–64 lead in the fourth, when Stewart submerged 19-Footer with six seconds. Akoa Makani drowned a 19-footer to snap a 68–68 tie with 7:21, and Luxa hit a jumper for a 76–70 lead after about two minutes.
After the nyara sabally trimmed, Liberty was found within two points at the 4:51 mark, Whitcoms submerged 3, and Akaa Makani hit a 12-footer for a lead of 81–74. Mercury opened a 10 -point lead with 3:10 on the fourth 3 of Whitcom and finished it by throwing the rest of the path five.
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