FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Liberty - Game 12

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs. Liberty – Game 12

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (9-3) | New York Liberty (6-5)

 

 

Two days after defeating the Dallas Wings, the Aces were back at Michelob Ultra Arena for a game against the New York Liberty. Vegas reached the 100-point mark for the third time this season as they knocked off the Liberty 100-78.

 

RECAP:

 

Las Vegas and New York traded baskets for the opening five minutes, with the Aces’ Liz Cambage and New York’s Sami Whitcomb chipping in six early points for their teams. Leaonna Odom checked in for the Liberty and scored on back-to-back possessions before handing the baton to Betnijah Laney for some additional scoring. In a similar fashion, Kelsey Plum entered from the bench and provided four quick points for the Aces, including an offensive rebound and putback to narrow the Aces’ deficit to four. New York finished the quarter up 26-22.

New York got off to a smoldering start to begin the second quarter; Kylee Shook and Michaela Onyenwere knocked down consecutive threes. Vegas had looked inside to Cambage to stop the bleeding but didn’t receive much of a boost. Onyenwere sunk another three-pointer within the first four minutes of the quarter to build the Liberty’s lead to 37-26. Dearica Hamby then reeled off seven points of her own to creep the Aces back into the game, and Kelsey Plum drove to the rim and converted on a layup, trimming the deficit to five points. Plum kept attacking the defense, and her catch-and-shoot three-pointer gave Vegas a 44-42 lead. Their lead would grow to as many as six, but a Kylee Shook three-pointer narrowed the Aces’ lead to 48-45 going into the third.

The Aces lost a bit of focus out of the halftime break as they turned the ball over multiple times — many unforced. New York took advantage and scored a couple of baskets, but they seemed to have caught the turnover bug as well.

Vegas got out in transition and scored on back-to-back layups to bring their lead to 59-53 with just over four minutes to go in the quarter. That lead would grow to as many as 11 after A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage got comfortable inside the paint. Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum turned up the offensive production in the closing minutes of the third and helped give Vegas a 73-60 frame heading into the final frame.

Plum continued with her stellar play, and the Aces’ lead ballooned to 19 points. Betnijah Laney started to score more as Vegas’ defense relaxed some with the large lead. New York made one little spurt to start the quarter, but the game never got close. Dearica Hamby scored one final basket to put the Aces at the 100-point mark. Las Vegas cruised to a 100-78 win.

 

 

POSITIVES:

 

Bench Production – Las Vegas got outstanding production during the second quarter from its bench. Plum and Hamby helped turn the game from an 11-point deficit to a 3-point Aces lead at halftime. Both Plum and Hamby combined for 24 points in the first half. Plum finished with a career-best 32, and Hamby with 16.

KP FOR THREEE!!@kelseyplum10 // #ALLIN ♦️♠️ pic.twitter.com/vMNCVtTMhN

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) June 16, 2021

 

NEGATIVES:

Turnovers – The total number of turnovers, 15, was big of a deal, but an even bigger problem for the Aces is that they continue to turn the ball over in bulks. In doing so, it helps allows the opposing teams to go on mini-runs that trim Vegas leads or create deficits. 

Free throws – Vegas didn’t get to the line all that much in this game, although they did make all but one of their attempts. This might be more of an outlier performance, being that the Aces lead the league in free-throw attempts per game.

 

 

 

The Aces will stay home and face the New York Liberty for a third time on Thursday, June 17th. Tune into CBS Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. PST to follow the action live, and make sure to catch the next recap here at Franchise Sports Media.

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