Short-handed Toronto Tempo end 12-game losing streak with narrow win over Portland
Isabelle Harrison’s 25-point performance guided the Tempo to an 82-79 victory at Rogers Arena, their first win since 12 July.
The Toronto Tempo have finally broken a 12-game losing streak, securing an 82-79 victory over the Portland Fire on Friday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The win marks the Tempo’s first since a 93-91 triumph against New York at the Bell Centre in Montreal on 12 July, ending a winless run that had stretched across the latter half of the season.
Isabelle Harrison was the driving force behind the turnaround, recording 25 points and 10 rebounds. Kiki Rice also contributed significantly, scoring a career-high-tying 19 points on efficient 7-of-9 shooting, while Laura Jukaite added 15 points for the Tempo. The victory was achieved in front of a crowd of 12,414, providing a rare moment of stability for a team currently sitting at 11 wins and 25 losses.
The Tempo’s path to victory was complicated by significant injury concerns. Leading scorer Marina Mabrey was sidelined with a right adductor issue, while Nyara Sabally and Maria Conde, who have combined for 70 starts this season, missed the game with calf injuries. Brittney Sykes also exited the game after approximately 90 seconds due to a foot injury, and Aneesah Morrow left early in the second quarter with a knee problem.
Portland, who finished with a 15-21 record, had controlled the early stages of the contest, leading by as many as 13 points in the first quarter. Bridget Carleton was a key offensive threat for the Fire, scoring 18 points including five three-pointers. However, the momentum shifted in the final minutes when a 13-0 run by Portland gave them a 76-75 lead with 3:28 remaining.
The game was ultimately decided by Harrison, who made a floater roughly two minutes after the Portland run to give Toronto the lead for the remainder of the game. The Fire’s final chance to equalise came when Carleton air-balled a contested three-point shot just before the buzzer.
The result leaves Portland 5.5 games behind the Dallas Wings for the eighth and final playoff spot, with eight regular-season games remaining. The Tempo will look to build on their momentum when they face the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, also at Rogers Arena.
