What happened

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton pulled up for a 22-foot step-back three-pointer with 7:37 left in the third quarter and missed. The Liberty trailed 39-43 at the time of the attempt.

Why it matters

Laney-Hamilton has been New York's primary perimeter creator this season, and her shot-making from beyond the arc is a swing variable in close games. A cold stretch from her in the third quarter puts more pressure on the Liberty's interior scoring to keep the deficit from widening.

What to watch

Watch whether Laney-Hamilton gets a quicker catch-and-shoot look on the next possession to find her rhythm. The Liberty need to close the four-point gap before the fourth quarter to keep this within striking distance.

Sources

  • @ESPN