The Portland Fire used an 11-point run in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 99-80 victory over the host Toronto Tempo on Saturday in the first meeting between the WNBA’s new expansion teams.
Emily Engstler posted 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks to pace a balanced effort for the Fire (3-3), who continued their pattern of following a loss with a win. Bridget Carleton, who went 4-for-8 on 3-point attempts, and Carla Leite added 15 points apiece.
Kiki Rice and Marina Mabley scored 19 points each for the Tempo (3-4), who shot just 24% (6 of 25) from 3-point range. Top scorer Brittney Sykes was held well below her 22.3 points per game as she finished with 10 points on 3-for-9 shooting. Sykes also committed seven turnovers.
The teams were tied after the first and second quarters, but Portland opened a five-point lead after three and seized control early in the fourth quarter.
Toronto pulled within 66-63 on a Rice layup 21 seconds into the fourth. Portland responded with the decisive 11-0 run in just 81 seconds. Leite converted an old-fashioned 3-point play and Engstler followed in kind. After a Luisa Geiselsoder layup, Nyadiew Puoch drilled a 3-point shot to push the edge to 77-63 with 8:07 to play. Toronto never pulled within 12 points again.
Leite returned to a starting role in her second game back from an ankle injury and added a game-high nine assists. Megan Gustafson added 14 points and made 6 of 8 shots off the bench. Fellow reserve Sarah Ashlee Barker provided points on 5-for-6 shooting.
Portland shot 10-for-15 (66.7%) in the fourth quarter and made 10 of 11 free throws en route to 33 points in the frame.
Mabrey shot 7-for-15, including 3-for-8 from 3-point range, and dished eight assists while claiming five rebounds. Rice connected on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and also pulled down five boards.
–Field Level Media
