Mabrey matches WNBA single-game scoring mark in Tempo rout
Marina Mabrey scored 53 points and hit nine 3-pointers as Toronto beat Los Angeles 125-97, Reuters reported.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
Marina Mabrey tied the WNBA record for points in a game with 53 as the Toronto Tempo beat the Los Angeles Sparks 125-97 on Thursday, Reuters reported. Her shooting powered Toronto to a wire-to-wire win and moved the expansion Tempo back to .500 at 9-9.
According to Reuters, Mabrey made 9 of 18 shots from 3-point range, equaling the league’s single-game scoring mark shared by A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage. The performance came one week after Mabrey hit nine 3-pointers against Connecticut on June 19, tying the WNBA record from long range and setting what was then her career best with 37 points.
Mabrey had 39 points through three quarters against Los Angeles, Reuters reported. She added 14 more in the fourth to reach 53, while Toronto stretched a game it controlled from the opening minutes.
The Tempo did not trail, according to Reuters. Toronto opened with a 19-6 burst inside the first four minutes, helped by early 3-pointers from Mabrey, Maria Conde and Julie Allemand.
Reuters reported that Toronto’s lead reached 35 points as the Tempo shot 20 of 42 from beyond the arc. Mabrey’s nine made 3-pointers nearly matched the Sparks’ entire output from deep; Los Angeles finished 11 of 38 on 3-point attempts.
Toronto's support scoring
Conde scored 13 points and made 3 of 5 from 3-point range, Reuters reported. She also had seven rebounds.
Allemand added 13 points on 3-for-3 shooting from deep and handed out a career-high 14 assists, according to Reuters. Laura Juskaite came off the bench for 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
The result gave Toronto a one-sided win after the teams played two close games in Los Angeles last month, Reuters reported. The Sparks and Tempo split that earlier pair.
Sparks miss Plum, struggle for balance
Los Angeles fell to 8-9, according to Reuters. The Sparks played without Kelsey Plum, their season-long leading scorer, who was sidelined by a leg injury sustained in Sunday’s win over New York.
Reuters reported that Los Angeles relied heavily on Nneka Ogwumike, Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell for offense. Ogwumike and Hamby scored 21 points apiece, while Burrell finished with 17.
Ogwumike also had seven rebounds, and Hamby led the Sparks with nine boards, according to Reuters. Los Angeles got limited scoring elsewhere, and its starting backcourt of Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins dealt with foul trouble.
The Sparks’ bench was also missing forward Cameron Brink because of an ankle injury, Reuters reported. Without Plum and Brink, Los Angeles fell behind early and could not cut into Toronto’s lead.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.