Scorchers Scorched Knights at Home with a 125-86 Rout Led by Bjornsen's Masterful Playmaking
Phoenix Dominates New York in Exhibition Blowout, Bjornsen Orchestrates Offense
By Sarah Collins
NEW YORK – The Phoenix Scorchers delivered a resounding statement on the road, dismantling the New York Knights 125-86 in a Pro League exhibition game that showcased their offensive firepower and defensive precision. A decisive second-quarter surge, fueled by exceptional ball movement and sharp shooting, proved to be the turning point as the Scorchers comfortably controlled the game from that point forward, leaving the home crowd stunned.
The Knights, looking to build momentum at home, started strong with early baskets from Casper Jorgensen and Sofia Clemente. However, the Scorchers quickly found their rhythm. A three-pointer from Elena Garcia ignited a 15-4 run for Phoenix, giving them a significant advantage by the end of the first quarter. While New York’s Casper Jorgensen battled hard on the boards, his team struggled to find consistent scoring.
The second quarter saw the Scorchers truly take flight. Ingrid Bjornsen orchestrated the offense with masterful precision, dishing out assists that led to easy buckets for her teammates. Phoenix’s shooting percentage soared, with multiple players hitting double-digit scoring by halftime. A barrage of three-pointers from Garcia and others stretched the lead into an insurmountable margin, effectively ending the competitive phase of the game.
“We came out with a focus tonight,” said Scorchers head coach David Lee. “Our ball movement was excellent, and everyone bought into the game plan. Ingrid was phenomenal, but it was a total team effort.”
For the Knights, Casper Jorgensen led the team with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Sofia Clemente and Andre Dubois also chipped in 13 points. However, their team’s shooting woes, particularly from beyond the arc, hampered their ability to keep pace.
“We didn’t execute the way we needed to,” admitted Knights guard Stella Dupont. “We have a lot to learn from this performance, and we’ll come back stronger.”
Key Notes:
- Phoenix Scorchers shot an impressive 53.5% from the field (46/86).
- Ingrid Bjornsen led all players with 11 assists.
- New York Knights struggled from the free-throw line, shooting just 56.7% (17/30).
- The Scorchers recorded 30 assists to only 9 turnovers.