The Minnesota Lynx aim to extend their winning streak to nine games Thursday night when they visit the Toronto Tempo to complete a two-game set between the teams.
The Lynx (23-6) defeated the Tempo 100-93 on Tuesday night at Minneapolis. The Tempo (10-17) have lost four in a row and eight of their past nine.
Toronto made a late run to cut Minnesota’s 17-point advantage with 1:21 left in the third quarter to two points with 4:10 remaining in the fourth. It was a three-point deficit with 1:20 to play in the game.
Antonia Delaere, who had three points in just three minutes through the first three quarters of the game, made 3 of 4 3-point attempts down the stretch, scoring nine of Minnesota’s final 11 points to help clinch the victory.
“We believe in Toni (Delaere) as a shooter,” said Olivia Miles, who led Minnesota with 24 points. “We’re trying to get her to shoot the ball a lot more because, obviously, you see how it turns out for us. The moment she hit the threes, they were like daggers.”
Delaere answered with a 3-pointer after Toronto cut the lead to two, 89-87, and hit her final 3 after the Lynx’s edge had shrunk to three, 95-92.
“You have to have players like that, that don’t have egos,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “They show up the same every day, they are so consistent. All that defines Toni.”
The Tempo were encouraged by the rally.
“I was proud of them,” Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said. “We are down a lot of key players. We’ve got every excuse, but we’re not making any excuses because we can still compete and take pride in what we’re doing.”
The Tempo welcomed back rookie guard Kiki Rice, who returned Tuesday after sustaining an ankle sprain on June 3. Rice had four points, three rebounds, four assists and five fouls in 17 minutes on the court.
The Tempo were without Brittney Sykes, who has been sidelined by a foot injury since June 16, Nyara Sabally, who sustained a rib cage injury on July 17, and Isabelle Harrison, who has a sore knee and last played on July 20.
Marina Mabrey led Toronto with 25 points and added eight rebounds and six assists on Tuesday. Maria Conde had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
