Toronto Tempo won 98-90 on the road for a second straight road victory, improving to 3-2 and surpassing .500 for the first time in team history. Marina Mabrey provided early momentum with step-back midrange, pull-up three-point shooting, and passing-lane pressure, finishing the first quarter with seven points. Maria Conde made an extra transition pass, while Kiki Rice hit a corner triple and showed rim pressure after misses. Toronto’s frontcourt effort included diving for a loose ball that led to a deep Mabrey three. Natasha Mack produced early damage with efficient scoring and rebounds, and DeWanna Bonner scored in transition after turnovers. Kiki Rice also committed turnovers, including a pass into coverage and a rushed drive.
"A mix of stupendous shot making and relentless resolve powered the Tempo to their second-consecutive road win on Tuesday - a 98-90 slugfest against the Phoenix Mercury that moved Toronto above .500 for the first time in team history at 3-2."
"Marina Mabrey came out gangbusters. A snatch-back tween dribble into a step-back middy, a pull-up triple out of the pick n' roll, hitting the glass and jumping passing lanes. She'd gone quiet for a couple games after starting the season with consecutive 25-plus point efforts, and seemed determined to recapture that form. The 34-foot heat check missed but Mabrey had a team-high seven points through the first quarter."
"And though Mabrey has said those aren't shots the Tempo want, those aren't the only ones they were getting. Maria Conde - getting her first WNBA start as a 29-year-old rookie - made the extra pass in transition and Kiki Rice canned the corner triple. The Tempo's sixth-overall pick has started driving to the rim with aplomb, hitting the gap with a head of steam and sticking with her own miss."
"But the Tempo's relatively diminutive bigs provided little resistance down low. Mercury centre Natasha Mack accumulated eight points - on perfect 4-of-4 shooting - and seven boards only a couple minutes into the second quarter. The score was deadlocked at 26, but DeWanna Bonner feasted in transition after an ill-advised pass and a missed Mabrey 3, prompting a Tempo timeout."
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