Ionescu scores 36 points and Liberty advance to WNBA semifinals with 91-82 win over Dream

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Liberty have been focused on bringing the first championship to the franchise after falling just short last year.

They moved one step closer to that goal as Sabrina Ionescu tied a franchise playoff record with 36 points to help the Liberty beat the Atlanta Dream 91-82 on Tuesday night and advance to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.

“The ultimate goal is what it is. But, you know, it’s every single game is a championship game to get to that final goal,” Ionescu said. “And obviously our goal is to not lose at home. So this was really important for us to come out, take these two and have a couple days off and kind of rest, recharge and get ready for whatever it is we’re going to play.”

Jonquel Jones added 20 points and 13 rebounds for the top-seeded Liberty, who swept the best-of-three series and will face Las Vegas in the next round that begins Sunday in New York. The Aces beat the Liberty in the WNBA Finals last season.

“We have unfinished business,” Jones said.

The Liberty took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter and the teams went back and forth before a layup by Courtney Vandersloot made it 75-72 with 5:41 left and started a 12-2 run. Breanna Stewart followed later in the spurt by swooping in for an offensive tip-in. It was her first points since the second quarter.

Leonie Fiebich, who scored 21 points in the opening game, then had a three-point play to extend the advantage to 82-74 with 4:11 left. She then hit a 3-pointer on the next possession to give New York a double-digit advantage for the first time in the game.

“It had a little bit of everything,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said of the run.

Atlanta couldn't get closer than seven the rest of the way.

“I don’t think it was anything they did different,” Rhyne Howard said of New York's stretch run. “We fought pretty hard, laid it out there. Coach told us to not go home with any regrets and we did that.”

Allisha Gray and Howard did all they could to try and stave off elimination. Gray finished with 26 points and Howard added 19. She also had a massive block on Stewart on a fast break in the third quarter.

“We watched it four or five times before we came in here (to the postgame presser),” Howard said smiling.

Stewart was impressed with the play by Howard

“She timed it really well,” the Liberty star said. “She got the block. I got the win.”

Unlike Game 1, when New York jumped all over Atlanta, the Dream got off to a quick start behind Gray. They led 28-19 as Gray had 14 points in the opening 10 minutes, hitting all five of her shots, including four 3-pointers.

Atlanta was up 11 in the second quarter before Ionescu started hitting deep 3s. She rallied the Liberty to take a brief 40-36 lead before the Dream closed the half on a 12-3 run to go up 48-43 at the break.

Ionescu tied Cappie Pondexter for the most points by a Liberty player in the postseason. Pondexter set the mark in 2010 also against the Dream.

“I guess I should have had one more,” Ionescu said, laughing.

The game drew another sellout crowd for New York that included Olympian Gabby Thomas, singer Pharrell as well as Spike Lee and Whoopi Goldberg. Rapper Ja Rule performed at halftime.

Ionescu said she got a high five from Lee during the third quarter.

“I felt like New York was injected into me. I was like, we’re winning this,” Ionescu said.

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

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) drives to the basket between Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) and Tina Charles during the first half of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (44) high-fives Breanna Stewart, right, as Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) looks on while Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray ducks away during the first half of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray drives past New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) during the first half of first-round WNBA basketball playoff game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts with Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game against the Atlanta Dream, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray reacts after making a 3-point basket during the first half of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game against the New York Liberty, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) drives past Atlanta Dream forward Naz Hillmon during the first half of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts with Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game against the Atlanta Dream, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

TORONTO (AP) — Trevor Story hit a tiebreaking double in a three-run 10th inning, and the Boston Red Sox rallied past the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Tuesday night.

“The boys did an amazing job of fighting all the way to the end,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We used everybody. It was one of the most gratifying wins since I’ve been here.”

Vaughn Grissom reached base four times, scored once and drove in a run as the Red Sox won their fourth straight.

Boston trailed 3-0 after six innings, scored two in the seventh and tied it in the eighth.

“It’s just a testament to who we are as a group, that we’re never out of a fight,” Grissom said. “That’s what you need. The best teams are never out of the fight. That’s huge.”

Story went 2 for 5 with two doubles. He gave Boston its first lead with his one-out two-bagger off Tommy Nance (0-3) that began a three-run 10th.

“He got a slider in the zone and put a great swing on it,” Cora said.

Pinch-hitter Connor Wong drove in a run with a grounder and Grissom added an RBI single.

Chris Martin (3-1) worked a scoreless ninth.

Toronto lost its fifth straight. The Blue Jays are 19-30 in one-run games.

Leo Jiménez cut it to 6-4 in the bottom of the 10th with an RBI double off Zach Penrod, who exited after walking Nathan Lukes.

Chase Shugart got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to fly out, walked Spencer Horwitz to load the bases, then walked Alejandro Kirk to force in a run. Shugart then ended it by getting Addison Barger to pop up. The save was the first of his career.

The Blue Jays have lost all five home meetings with Boston this season.

Guerrero opened the scoring with a two-run double off Brayan Bello in the third. He has 102 RBIs this season.

Lukes made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Ceddanne Rafaela started Boston’s comeback with a two-run single off Ryan Burr in the seventh. Rafaela has 61 RBIs from the ninth spot in the order this season.

Boston tied it against Génesis Cabrera in the eighth. Romy Gonzalez led off with a single, advanced to third on a hit by Triston Casas and scored on Masataka Yoshida’s grounder.

In his final start of the season, Toronto’s Bowden Francis pitched five scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out four.

“Just another outstanding effort,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “You can’t really say enough about how he finished up the season.”

Francis went 4-2 with a 1.33 ERA over his final eight starts, twice taking no-hit bids into the ninth inning.

ROSTER MOVES

Blue Jays: Toronto optioned RHP Zach Pop to its spring training facility and recalled LHP Easton Lucas from Triple-A Buffalo. ... INF Orelvis Martinez was reinstated from the suspended list and optioned to the spring facility. To make room on the 40-man roster, OF Daulton Varsho was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Varsho had shoulder surgery on Monday.

UP NEXT

Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (13-11, 3.91 ERA) is scheduled to make his final start of the season in Wednesday’s series finale. Red Sox RHP Richard Fitts (0-0, 0.00) is set for his fourth career start.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela hits an RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran rounds the bases to score a run on a Trevor Story RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida grounds into a fielder's choice scoring a run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. breaks his bat over his knee after flying out against the Boston Red Sox in the 10th inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela celebrates after hitting an RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. breaks his bat over his knee after flying out against the Boston Red Sox in the 10th inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Trevor Story advances to third base during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Trevor Story hits a go-ahead RBI double during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox' Triston Casas sits at second base after being tagged out in a double play during the fourth inning of a baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido, left, steals second base ahead of the tag from Boston Red Sox second baseman Vaughn Grissom (5) during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Davis Schneider, left, scores a run as Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Sims, right, looks on during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Danny Jansen (28) grounds out as Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) looks on during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates his two-run double against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Vaughn Grissom, right, slides safely into second base in front of the tag from Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Davis Schneider during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox' Triston Casas sits at second base after being tagged out in a double play during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu reacts after fouling out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a two-run double against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement (28) tags out Boston Red Sox's Triston Casas (36) at second base during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, center, celebrates with Romy Gonzalez (23) and Ceddanne Rafaela after their team's win over the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)