NEW YORK — Breanna Stewart had 31 points and 10 rebounds to help the short-handed New York Liberty open their season with a 106-75 rout of the Connecticut Sun on Friday night.Marine Johannes added 17 points for New York, which was missing star guard Sabrina Ionescu, who is out with a left foot injury she suffered last Sunday in a preseason game against the Sun. Rebecca Allen has a left leg injury and Satou Sabally has a cyst. Both free-agent additions missed the opener as well.New York still ran away from Connecticut early, going up 36-13 after the first quarter. Stewart had 10 points in the opening period, making all four of her shots. Julie Vanloo, who the Liberty signed as a hardship player a night before the game since they were down to seven available players, had seven points in the first quarter.Vanloo finished with 12 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.The Liberty played a touching tribute video after the first quarter for former player Kennedy Burke, who is now with the Sun. She received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd as tears streamed down her face.Connecticut never got back in the game after the initial onslaught. It was 66-37 at the half — the Liberty’s highest-scoring first half in three years.Popular ReadsDiamond Miller scored 16 points to lead Connecticut and Brittney Griner added 13 …
