Portland Fire Stalled by New York Liberty 100-82
Carla Leite's absence - exacerbated by a stifling zone defense - doomed the Rose City's expansion team tonight.
For the third game in a row, Portland began with an experimental lineup: one guard, three forwards, and one center. Tonight, that experiment took a challenging course: without Carla Leite - ruled out by an ankle injury suffered Tuesday night - the Fire leaned on free agent signing Kamiah Smalls.
Early on, the experiment returned results. New York’s first possession ended in the arms of Nyadiew Puoch, who raced down the floor and laid up the game’s first basket. Minutes later, the Fire’s perimeter spacing opened up space inside, and Emily Engstler posted up Pauline Astier for an easy bucket.
Tied at 12 with 4:13 left, the Fire’s unorthodox lineup proved it’s worth yet again. Moments after WNBA veteran Breanna Stewart crossed the midcourt logo, Sarah Ashlee Barker led a swarm of black-clad defenders, smothering the ball-handler and forcing a turnover. The Fire proceeded to find reserve center Megan Gustafson, who attacked Stewart inside one-on-one. Thanks to efficient, team basketball on both ends of the floor, Portland held their first lead 14-12 with three minutes left in the quarter.
When the first quarter ended, that narrow lead had grown to six. Portland’s backup big Gustafson led all scorers with 8 points, thanks to a flawless 3/3 shooting stroke, and a pair of free throws.
Early in the second, the Fire continued to outclass their opposition. After receiving a pass from Barker, Luisa Geiselsöder cut to the hoop for a layup. Forty seconds later, Barker got open behind the arc and made New York’s defense pay. Following a timeout with 7:49 remaining, Portland led 25-18.
From there, three Liberty three point shots put New York on top. Slow transitions - exposed by turnovers from the Liberty’s zone defense - offered open looks for Belgian guard Julie Vanloo, the French forward Astier, and the three-time WNBA champion Stewart. Halfway through the period, Portland trailed 29-27.
Late in the quarter, Portland responded to New York’s zone with a zone of their own, slowing the Liberty fastbreak. After veteran wing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton raced inside for a last-second layup, New York took a two point advantage into halftime.
At the break, Portland’s first quarter breakout Gustafson continued to lead all scorers with 10 points on perfect 4/4 shooting. The rookie Puoch and battle-hardened vet Engstler each offered 8 points and several rebounds, while New York’s top scorer Astier had 8 points thanks to a 50% three point shooting rate. Perhaps the most impressive stat of the half was an ugly mark: Portland’s aggressive offense, with a bevvy of perimeter snipers and the green light to fire at will, only managed to hit 4 of 18 three pointers (22%).
Shortly after surrendering an open trey to Astier, the Fire found their three point shooting form; Engstler scooped a Smalls dish and fired from twenty-four feet out. When Portland called timeout with 6:30 remaining, New York led 48-44.
The deficit worsened throughout the period, as Leite’s injury exposed a glaring problem. Without their star point guard, Portland possessions broke down. First, Sug Sutton lost the ball in the backcourt. Then, Frieda Bühner missed a jumper. Near the end of the quarter, the normally reliable Carleton whiffed a fadeaway, and Geiselsöder drew a kicked-ball violation. Consistently, Portland’s mistakes inspired New York’s makes.
With less than a minute left, New York held their largest lead of the night, 67-53. When the third quarter concluded, Moda Center’s scoreboard flashed 70-53 Liberty.
The fourth quarter saw New York’s depth and experience rise above the Rose City’s expansion team. Shots continued to fall, the margin slipped further away, and eventually Portland relented. A Liberty slide that surrendered a double-digit lead Tuesday found itself in full control. With four minutes left, New York cruised 90-69. In the final moments, preseason darling Serah Williams excited the crowd with a block, two steals, and a rebound. When the clock struck zeroes, Portland lost 100-82.
Tonight’s defeat drops Portland to 1-2 this season, while New York moves back to .500 with a 2-2 record. Megan Gustafson led the Fire with 14 points, narrowly ahead of Nyadiew Puoch’s 13 point night.
The Portland Fire will return to action Monday night against the Connecticut Sun, with tip-off slated for 7 PM at Moda Center.
—
Matt Bagley is a professional sportswriter with a passion for women’s sports. Outside of work, he cherishes quality time with his birth family, his chosen family, and one very pesky house panther.
PortlandSupporter.com features no paywalls or advertisements. Instead, we conclude every article with a brief spotlight on Matt’s favorite local charities.
Triple Threat Mentoring is a program that offers one-on-one and group mentoring primarily to youth of color living in the Portland metro area. They are dedicated to the academic success and lifelong health of Portland’s underserved youth of color, supporting them in becoming well-rounded learners, exceptional athletes, and global citizens. To learn more about donating, browse this link.