Jones and Liberty topple defending champions in 38-point blowout win

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

JONQUEL Jones and the New York Liberty routed the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in a 38-point blowout win.

The second overall New York team stepped on the hardwood at the Barclays Center in front of a historically packed crowd against the number one team in the league and wrapped them up 99-61.

It was the team’s second win of the weekend and fourth consecutive win in the last few games.

Jones’ squad got the upperhand over the Minnesota Lynx 76-66 this past Friday to return the favour after the team had previously snapped their

KANSAS MEN’S HOOPS LOSES FIRST EXHIBITION GAME SINCE 2012

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (AP) — Kansas had its 35-game exhibition winning streak in men’s basketball snapped yesterday by the Bahamian national team, which got big performances from NBA stars Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon in an 87-81 victory at Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum.

Hield scored 19 points and Gordon had 12 for the Bahamas, which is preparing for the upcoming FIBA World Cup.

The Jayhawks, who had not lost an exhibition since 2012, routed a select team from Puerto Rico to begin a three-game tour of the Caribbean last Thursday.

Their new-look lineup led by Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson and returning starters Dajuan Harris Jr., KJ Adams Jr. and Kevin McCullar Jr. proceeded to hold off the Bahamas 92-87 in their second game Saturday.

Gordon, who signed with the Suns last month, joined the Bahamian squad for the matchup yesterday. He previously played for the US in international competition but has been cleared to play for the Bahamas because his mother is originally from Nassau.

Harris scored 23 points and McCullar had 19 in the tour finale for the Jayhawks, who are expected to be No. 1 when the preseason AP Top 25 is released later this year.

Dickinson added 16 points and nine rebounds while Nicolas Timberlake scored 13.

four-game winning streak one week prior.

After being down 0-1 in the season series against the Commissioner’s Cup winners, the New York Liberty made a statement against the first-seeded Western Conference Aces.

The latter had been riding an eight-game win streak and came into the match with 24-2 (win/loss record). However, Jones and her teammates halted the team’s momentum.

Sabrina Ionescu led the charge for the Liberty after dropping a jaw-dropping 23 points, five rebounds and three assists to pair with 5 three-pointers in the first half. Bahamian forward Jones also put on a show, for the biggest crowd ever for women’s basketball at the Barclays Center, reeling in her second straight double double of the weekend. The former WNBA