basketball

Porland Fire ignite at the buzzer, stun New York Liberty for first win

Yahoo Sports

The Portland Fire got their first win on a theatrical buzzer-beater against the New York Liberty. Watch the dramatic finish.

The Portland Fire delivered a jaw-dropping, 98-96, finish Tuesday night over the New York Liberty to get their first franchise victory. Late in the fourth quarter, the Fire and the Liberty traded baskets as the seconds ticked off the clock. With 13 seconds remaining and an overtime period looming, the Liberty turned the ball over with an ill-timed three-second violation.

On the next possession, Bridget Carleton , who had a career-high 26 points and five 3-pointers, dribbled around the perimeter and immediately pulled up for a shot over Breanna Stewart , hoping to sink the game-winner. Carleton's 3-pointer hit the backboard and ricocheted off. Her teammate, Sarah Ashlee Barker, was jockeying for positioning for the rebound and was bumped into the pathway of the ball as it fell.

Barker quickly gathered it and put the ball into the air as she was falling to the ground. It hit the backboard, then the front of the rim ― and the back of the rim for good measure ― and bounced in as time expired. View this post on Instagram "I missed that first play for (Sarah Ashlee Barker) to get that rebound," Carleton said with a smile postgame.

"That's just who she is. She's aggressive. She's gritty.