Vandersloot scores 24 points, Sky beat Liberty 91-83
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - Courtney Vandersloot wanted the ball in her hands with the game on the line.
She scored 25 points, hitting five of six free throws in the final 37.2 seconds, to help the Chicago Sky beat the New York Liberty 91-83 on Wednesday night.
"That's how you win games. Everyone says free throws are how you win games," said Vandersloot, who also had eight rebounds and six assists. "We had the people willing to knock some shots down. That's how you win down the stretch."
The Sky led 61-56 after the third quarter and scored nine of the first 11 points in the fourth quarter to open up a double-digit lead. New York (3-6) got to 82-78 with just under 2 minutes left. Amanda Zahui B. missed a fast-break layup on one and of the court and then Cheyenne Parker was fouled with 1:31 left. She made both free throws as the Sky made 9 of 10 from the line in the final 91 seconds to seal the win - their fourth straight.
"It's good we're on a nice little run," Vandersloot said. "Nice to have a couple of road wins. Came into this season confident. We knew what we had. Knew what we could be. Just a matter of proving it to everyone else."
Parker and Allie Quigley each had 13 points for the Sky (5-2).
Asia Durr scored 19 points to lead New York and Tina Charles added 16.
Chicago led 14-10 midway through the first quarter before holding the Liberty to just one basket over the rest of the quarter. The Sky led 20-12 after the period and were up 41-34 at the half. Kia Nurse looked to have hurt her lower leg with just over 2 minutes left in the first half. She sat out the rest of the half, but started the third quarter and played most of the final 20 minutes.
Nurse brushed off the injury talk after the game saying she was fine.
"I didn't get injured today, not sure why everyone keeps asking me that," the second-year guard said with her left foot wrapped in ice.
HEADING OVERSEAS: Zahui B. will be joining Sweden's national team for the EuroBasket tournament. Wednesday night was her last game with New York until the tournament ends. She had 13 points and 10 rebounds . New York is already without guard Bria Hartley, who is playing with France in the tournament. Chicago is missing Astou Ndour, who is playing for Spain.
UP NEXT:
Sky: Host Indiana on Friday night.
Liberty: At Minnesota on Saturday night.