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Chris DeMarco Praises Marine Fauthoux's Big-Moment Play in Liberty's Game 2 Loss
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- Chris DeMarco Praises Marine Fauthoux's Big-Moment Play in Liberty's Game 2 Loss
(Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images)
Marine Fauthoux hit a 25-foot 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds left in regulation Wednesday night to tie the Atlanta Dream 88-88. She fouled out with 4.3 seconds left in overtime, and the New York Liberty lost 101-98 at State Farm Arena.
The Dream lead the WNBA semifinals 2-0. No WNBA team has come back from an 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-five series.
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Fauthoux scored 20 points off the bench on 8-of-10 shooting. She went 4-of-6 from 3-point range and added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 30:50.
Her tying shot came off a pass from Breanna Stewart. Atlanta had gone ahead 88-85 when Angel Reese made two free throws with 14.5 seconds left.
New York set a good screen to free Fauthoux, Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said.
"It was a double pin-down," DeMarco said. "There were two options for Stu, and she made the right play. We set a great screen, it was open, and she lives for big moments. That's the type of player she is. She brought everything tonight, as did everybody."
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Fauthoux Delivers Repeatedly in Big Moments
Fauthoux scored seven points in the third quarter. Her 25-foot bank shot with 6.2 seconds left capped a 7-0 run and cut Atlanta's lead to 75-74 going into the fourth.
She opened New York's scoring in overtime with a 26-foot pull-up 3-pointer at 3:13 that made it 93-91. DeWanna Bonner stole her pass with 1:02 left, and Reese scored at the other end for a 97-96 Dream lead.
Her fifth foul came at 6.1 seconds, after Sabrina Ionescu's pass went out of bounds with New York down 99-98. The sixth came at 4.3, and Reese made two more free throws.
Liberty Saw Different Coverages on Ionescu
Ionescu finished with 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting and seven assists. She went 2-of-6 at the free-throw line. Her 25-foot pull-up 3-pointer with 1:40 left in regulation cut an 86-80 deficit to 86-83.
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She scored 27 points in Atlanta's 92-82 win in Game 1 on Sunday.
Atlanta changed its coverages on Ionescu after that game, DeMarco said.
"She was playing hard, and the game gives you different things," DeMarco explained. "In Game 1 she had a lot of great looks. In Game 2 they changed their coverages and she had to make the right plays. I thought she played really well tonight."
Breanna Stewart led New York with 35 points and 11 rebounds. Jonquel Jones had 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and eight rebounds, along with six turnovers.
New York made 54.7% of its shots and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta turned into 28 points.
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New York was called for 25 fouls to Atlanta's 18. The teams combined for 29 fouls in the first half.
DeMarco Says Liberty Still Believe
DeMarco said New York had its chances in Atlanta.
"These games have felt like that throughout the year," DeMarco said. "I don't know what to tell you. Our players do a great job of playing the game the way it's supposed to be played, and then it's up to the officials. As far as our team goes, we came with the right mindset and were physical.
"We had our chances," DeMarco continued. "They hit a layup, we missed a few rebounds, but the series is not over. We believe in ourselves and in this team going forward."
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The Liberty reached the semifinals as the No. 8 seed after they swept the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round. New York put the Las Vegas Aces in an 0-2 hole in the 2024 semifinals and won that series 3-1.
Stewart is looking forward to getting back to Barclays Center and playing in front of New York's fans.
"We're not focused on winning three games straight right now," Stewart said. "We're focused on winning one game, and that's Friday, and then we go from there. This group has experience. I've been part of some crazy series and I have a lot of confidence in our group."
New York hosts Game 3 on Friday at Barclays Center, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Game 4, if necessary, would be Sunday in Brooklyn.
