Emma Meesseman, Jonquel Jones fuel Liberty’s road win against Sparks

Emma Meesseman scored 24 points with nine rebounds and Jonquel Jones added 21 points and 11 boards as the New York Liberty opened a three-game road trip with a 105-97 win over the Los Angeles Sparks Tuesday night. Leonie Fiebich had 20 points and Sabrina Ionescu added 14 points and six assists as the Liberty (21-11) avenged a 101-99 home loss to LA on July 26.


New York was again without Breanna Stewart (knee) for the eighth straight game, along with Nyara Sabally (knee) and Isabelle Harrison (concussion).


Kelsey Plum scored 26 points and Dearica Hamby had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Sparks (15-17), who missed a chance to reach .500 for the first time since 1-1. Azura Stevens scored 17 and Rickea Jackson 16.


The Sparks opened with 30 points in the first quarter but managed only 14 in the second, shooting 37.5% and 1-for-5 from deep. New York, led by Jones’ 14 first-half points, shot 54.1% to take a 50-44 lead into the break.

LA cut the margin to 74-70 late in the third, but the Liberty entered the fourth up 78-72. Julie Vanloo’s three pulled the Sparks within 78-75, before New York responded with a 9-2 run to go ahead 87-77 with 7:19 remaining.


The Liberty shot 55.9% overall and hit 14 of 28 from three-point range, never relinquishing control down the stretch. The win was also a bounce-back from Sunday’s 83-71 loss to Minnesota.

Cameron Brink scored two points in five first-half minutes for LA and did not play after halftime.