Olivia Miles scored 24 points and reserve Antonia Delaere nailed three critical 3-pointers down the stretch as the Minnesota Lynx held off the Toronto Tempo 100-93 on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
Minnesota (23-6) won its eighth consecutive game. The Lynx led for most of the last three quarters and threatened to blow the game open at one point in the third period but were challenged down the stretch.
Toronto (10-17) pulled within 89-87 when Kia Nurse drained a 3-pointer with 4:10 left, capping a 12-0 run.
At that point, Delaere stepped up, sinking two 3-pointers in a span of 1:09 to put up the Lynx up by eight. After the Tempo closed within 95-92 on a 3-pointer and two foul shots by Marina Mabrey with 1:20 remaining, Delaere connected on her career-best fourth 3-pointer of the night to finally put Toronto away.
Kayla McBride added 18 points for Minnesota, while Napheesa Collier hit for 15 in her second game back from two ankle surgeries that sidelined her for the season’s first 27 games. Natasha Howard contributed 13 points, and Delaere finished with 12.
Mabrey scored a game-high 25 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Tempo’s eighth loss in nine games. Maria Conde posted 20 points and 10 boards, while Laura Juskaite netted 18 points and Julie Allemand put up 10.
Mabrey helped Toronto get off the mark with seven first-quarter points, helping the visitors take leads of 17-12 and 28-23. The Tempo used the 3-pointer effectively, creating open looks with penetration and crisp passing, and they took a 28-25 edge to the second period.
Minnesota took charge with a 20-5 run that bridged the quarters, including 10 straight that resulted in a 43-33 advantage. McBride capped the half by stealing the ball and scoring an uncontested layup with 1.8 seconds left for a 53-43 cushion at intermission.
Neither team stopped the other much in the third quarter, although the Lynx were able to open up a 17-point lead at one point. Even after Mabrey sank a 3-pointer and fed Teonni Key for a layup to close the frame, Minnesota took an 81-68 advantage to the fourth period.
–Field Level Media
