Network News Global

Where Every Story Matters

Tempo rally past Sun for first OT win in franchise history
Sports

Tempo rally past Sun for first OT win in franchise history


TORONTO — Brittney Sykes tied a career high with 38 points, leading the expansion Toronto Tempo to a 106-102 overtime win against the last-place Connecticut Sun on Wednesday.

Trailing by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, Sykes led her team to the winner’s circle with a difference-making layup with 42 seconds remaining in the extra period.

A career-high 24 points from Aaliyah Edwards, of Kingston, Ont., and Leila Lacau led the Sun (2-12) in their fourth straight loss.

The Tempo (7-5) won for the fourth time in five outings.

Sykes’ scoring included three three-pointers and a perfect 13 for 13 from the free-throw line. She knocked down four free throws in the final 79 seconds to make sure the Tempo pushed the game into overtime.

Marina Mabrey also made three four-pointers and totalled 21 points. Laura Juskaite chipped in 19.

Edwards arrived in Toronto for her first WNBA game in Canada, having scored a season-high 15 points on Monday and bettered her production in front of friends and family at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Suns guard Saniya Rivers also enjoyed a strong game with 12 points.

The visitors led 31-30 after the first quarter and increased their advantage to 55-42 at halftime. Mabrey and Sykes were hot from beyond the three-point arc to bring the Tempo to within 79-72 after three quarters.

Tempo: Guard Kiki Rice missed the game with a left ankle injury. Rice, the sixth overall pick in the draft, helped UCLA win an NCAA championship last spring.

Suns: Three-time United States Olympic gold medallist Becky Griner, 35, missed her second straight game with a rib strain.

After the Tempo moved to within two points midway through the fourth quarter with a Sykes three-pointer, Edwards nailed back-to-back field goals to put the Suns in front by five points with 6:23 remaining.

The Tempo improved to 4-2 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Tempo: Visit the Washington Mystics on Friday. 

Sun: Return home to play the Indiana Fever on Saturday.



Source link

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *