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Liberty news: Emerging rookie flashes superpower to survive Sparks' rally
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- Liberty news: Emerging rookie flashes superpower to survive Sparks' rally
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NEW YORK — The New York Liberty almost set a WNBA record on Thursday. They surrendered 25 points of a 28-point lead to the Los Angeles Sparks . If they had allowed LA to come all the way back, it would have tied the largest comeback in league history. Luckily for New York, and first-year head coach Chris DeMarco, they did not.
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The Liberty won the first quarter 21-16, with DeMarco deploying Jonquel Jones alongside four reserves to start the second. Even against the 12-20 Sparks, the Liberty struggled to find offensive rhythm . The lineup's backcourt included playmakers Marine Fauthoux and Marinè Johannes, with Rebekah Gardner and Han Xu in tow. Jones assisted Johannes on a 3-pointer to start, but the lineup wound up shooting 2-7 FG, with a turnover, in the first 3:10 of the period.
Then, DeMarco turned to Pauline Astier — the 24-year-old rookie from France — to steady the ship. Sabrina Ionescu came in for Gardner, and Breanna Stewart relieved Jones. But it was Astier's time to shine.
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In just five second-quarter minutes, the rookie turned in seven points, two assists, a rebound, and a steal on 3-of-4 shooting. She was a +9 in the quarter, highlighted by a tough and-one finish at the rim.
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Astier can get into the paint at will, with her ability to drive to the basket standing out as her WNBA superpower. She also tends to make the right read once she gets there. Those include finding open teammates for 3-pointers or tough finishes of her own at the basket.
Perhaps most notable from Astier on Thursday, though, was her defense. She held her own, and the Liberty won the second quarter 28-16 for a 17-point halftime lead.
DeMarco's trust in Astier extended to key fourth-quarter stretch
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
New York certainly didn't hold onto that lead. The Sparks pulled within three points late in the fourth quarter, thanks to a 29-4 run in just 5:45 of fourth quarter action.
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When Los Angeles cut it to four, though, DeMarco went back to Astier . He subbed her in for Rebecca Allen with 3:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. He never called her back to the bench.
Astier wasn't nearly as productive as before, going scoreless and committing both a turnover and foul in the stretch. The late-game shift, however, showed just how much trust DeMarco has in the 24-year-old when she's defending well.
The Liberty still stand in sixth place, just one game behind the Indiana Fever . They'll continue to be without Satou Sabally in coming weeks, with DeMarco telling reporters ahead of Thursday's game that three-time WNBA All-Star will be stepping away from the team. That makes the need for stepped-up performances from depth pieces, even rookies like Astier, all the more dire.
Once Leonie Fiebich returns, DeMarco will have a wing in his rotation — and more lineup flexibility as a result. Until then, though, New York will continue to lean on Fauthoux and Astier to fill the gaps.
Related: Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu eases concerns about ankle injury after surviving Sparks' comeback
Related: Liberty's Satou Sabally stepping away from team temporarily amid head injury
