Marine Johannes scored a career-high 25 points and delivered two critical plays in overtime, helping the New York Liberty secure a 98-93 road win against the Washington Mystics on Sunday afternoon.
Johannes also tied her personal best with six three-pointers. Breanna Stewart added 23 points for the Liberty, who were missing injured starters Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally.
New York (2-0) extended its winning streak over the Mystics to 11 games, including playoff matchups. The contest featured 11 lead changes and eight ties, with a total of 58 fouls called.
Kiki Iriafen recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds for Washington (1-1). Sonia Citron chipped in 17 points. The Mystics struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 20 of 29 attempts, including 4 of 8 in the extra period.
In overtime, Johannes sank a clutch three-pointer from the corner with 1:58 remaining, putting the Liberty ahead 90-86. However, Washington responded with a 6-2 run to tie the game at 92. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton drew a foul from Cassandre Prosper and made two free throws with 29.6 seconds left.
On the Mystics’ next possession, Johannes poked the ball away from Citron, and officials ruled it went off Citron. Pauline Astier sealed the win for New York by hitting four free throws in the closing seconds.
The Liberty built a 12-point lead in the third quarter, but the young Mystics refused to back down. Georgia Amoore knocked down a three to tie the game at 76 with 6:56 remaining in regulation. The score was knotted at 81 when Johannes scored on a double-pump layup with 1:32 left, giving New York the lead. Prosper answered with a backdoor cut to tie it again.
Stewart put the Liberty back in front with a jumper in the lane, but Iriafen scored inside for Washington to make it 85-all with 15.7 seconds left. Johannes then drove the ball into the frontcourt and found Stewart in the lane, but her shot rimmed out at the buzzer, forcing overtime.
Washington’s first-round pick, Lauren Betts (No. 4 overall), played 18 minutes and scored the first points of her WNBA career, finishing with seven points.
