Brittney Sykes delivered an impressive 31-point performance, while Marina Mabrey contributed 30 points and six 3-pointers to lead the Toronto Tempo to a 98-90 victory over the Phoenix Mercury in Phoenix on Tuesday night.
Toronto gained a significant advantage in the WNBA contest by outscoring Phoenix 12-4 at the start of the fourth quarter, securing an 85-78 lead. Maria Conde and Kiki Rice extended the Tempo’s lead to 93-86 with 2:32 remaining after scoring in the lane, following a Phoenix turnover.
Mabrey increased Toronto’s lead to 96-90 by sinking her sixth three-pointer from the corner with 1:25 left in the game.
The Tempo set a season-high record with 15 successful 3-pointers, while Phoenix struggled, making only 4 of their 22 attempts.
Kahleah Copper recorded 18 points and Alyssa Thomas scored 17 for Phoenix (2-3). DeWanna Bonner and Jovana Nogic each contributed 13 points, while Natasha Mack tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds before exiting the game in the late third quarter due to a fall.
For Toronto (3-2), Rice scored 15 points, and Laura Juskaite added 10. Sykes, who had a career-best 38 points in the previous game against Los Angeles, shot 10-for-19 from the field with four 3-pointers.
Mabrey’s third three-pointer of the first half gave Toronto a 45-44 lead with 20.8 seconds remaining. By halftime, Mabrey had 15 points, Sykes had 14, and the rest of the team combined for a 5-for-16 shooting.
In upcoming games, the Tempo will face the Minnesota Lynx, while the Mercury will host the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.