Breanna Stewart scores 21 points, Liberty pull away for 84-70 win over Mercury

PHOENIX (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored 21 points, Courtney Vandersloot added 16 and the New York Liberty used a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Phoenix Mercury 84-70 on Monday night.

Sabrina Ionescu scored five points as the Liberty, starting with Stewart's turnaround jumper from the foul line, turned a 64-57 lead into a 17-point advantage midway through the fourth quarter. Leonie Fiebich contributed a 3-pointer, her only basket of the game.

Jonquel Jones scored 15 points for the Liberty (27-5), who hit 12 3-pointers and outscored Phoenix 14-3 at the foul line. Ionescu finished with 13 points.

Brittney Griner scored 22 to lead the Mercury (16-15), but had seven of their 20 turnovers. Natasha Cloud added 18 points, Kahleah Copper had 14 and Diana Taurasi 10. The turnovers cost Phenix 28 points and the bench was outscored 15-4.

New York was 12 for 29 behind the arc to Phoenix's 5 for 22.

Taurasi hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to pull the Mercury into a tie at 38 at the break. The Liberty led by as many as nine but was outscored 20-12 inside and Phoenix had 15 fastbreak points.

Griner reached 800 career blocks for the Mercury and Cloud reached 200 assists for the season, passing Taurasi for the single-season franchise record. Taurasi also moved past Lindsey Whalen (2,348) for fourth on the WBA career assists list.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper, bottom, slides across the court during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham (9) tips the ball away from New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich, front right, during the first half of WNBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) celebrates after her 3-point basket against the New York Liberty during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) tries to shoot over Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) and guard Sophie Cunningham (9) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack, left, collides with New York Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) as Liberty forward Nyara Sabally (8) looks on during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) looks to shoot between Phoenix Mercury guards Kahleah Copper (2) and Diana Taurasi, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper, left, tips away a pass intended for New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, left, gets off a pass past Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud (0) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) drives past Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4) to score during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Authorities in Mexico's resort-studded Los Cabos area warned tourists and residents alike to stay inside Friday as Tropical Storm Ileana began to pound the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula with rain.

Ileana formed Thursday off the Pacific coast of Mexico and was lumbering north-northwest at 9 mph (15 kmh), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The forecast path would take it over or near the twin resorts of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

Ileana was centered about 55 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of Cabo San Lucas, the center said in a Friday morning advisory. Maximum sustained winds were at 45 mph (75 kph), and Ileana was expected to reach the coast during the next several hours.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for portions of the Baja California Peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Forecasters predicted 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain would fall with Ileana, and up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) was possible for coastal areas of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco states through Friday.

Ileana is expected to move across the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula Friday and over the southern and central Gulf of California this weekend.

Los Cabos Civil Protection issued a red alert for Los Cabos and La Paz on Friday morning. “Stay totally indoors, do not go outside until authorities advise, and be aware of alerts issued by authorities,” they shared on Facebook.

They also urged residents to avoid crossing rivers, streams, and low areas where they can be swept away by water.

All schools in Los Cabos were also suspended Friday due to the storm.

Óscar Cruces Rodríguez of Mexico’s federal Civil Protection said in a statement that residents should avoid leaving their homes until the storm passes and if residents are in an area at risk of flooding to find temporary shelters.

Authorities prepared 20 temporary shelters in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, according to Los Cabos Civil Protection.

At the Hacienda Beach Club and Residences in Cabo San Lucas, valet worker Alan Galvan said the rain arrived late Thursday night and has been constant. “The rain isn't very strong right now, but the waves are choppy," he said.

“The guests are very calm and already came down for coffee,” Galvan said. “There's some flights canceled but everything is ok at the moment.” Galvan said they are awaiting further advisories from authorities.

Felipe Gomez, a worker at the Vibrant Cabo San Lucas Marina Restaurant was the first to arrive at work, but was awaiting orders from management on whether they would close.

“Honestly it’s pretty ugly right now, the whole main boulevard is flooded and all the businesses are closed,” he said.

“I’m waiting for them to confirm and then I’ll go home," he said. "I hope it gets better and conditions don’t worsen.”

This satellite image taken at 12:40 pm ET on Sept. 13, 2024, provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shows Tropical Storm Ileana at Mexico's southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. (NOAA via AP)