Brittney Sykes explodes to help Tempo rally, extend Sun's struggle

Brittney Sykes tied her career high with 38 points and Marina Mabrey added 21 against her former team, fueling the host Toronto Tempo to a 106-102 overtime victory over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday in a Commissioner's Cup game.

Mabrey, who played for the Sun the previous two seasons, sank a mid-range jumper to forge a 102-102 tie with 1:17 remaining in overtime. She then corralled a defensive rebound following a missed 3-pointer, and Sykes added a driving layup and a pair of free throws to cap the scoring.

Sykes made 11 of 20 shots from the floor and all 13 of her free-throw attempts.

Laura Juskaite scored a career-high 19 points and Nyara Sabally added 15 for the Tempo (7-5, 2-1 Commissioner's Cup), who overcame a 14-point deficit to notch their fourth win in the last five games.

Connecticut's Leila Lacan sank four 3-pointers to highlight her career-high 24-point performance.

Ontario native Aaliyah Edwards added 24 points for the Sun (2-12, 0-4), who committed 19 turnovers en route to losing their fourth in a row. Connecticut fell despite holding a 42-28 edge in rebounds.

Connecticut held a 79-72 lead after three quarters before Toronto responded with a 9-4 run to start the fourth, highlighted by Sykes sinking a step-back jumper and a 3-pointer during that surge.

Lacan sank a long 3-pointer to begin the third quarter and give the Sun a 60-46 lead before the Tempo responded with a 15-5 run. Mabrey highlighted that charge with a pair of long 3-pointers.

Toronto trimmed its deficit to four points at 74-70 before the Sun's Saniya Rivers sank a 3-pointer from 28 feet away just before the shot clock expired.

Lacan drilled a trio of 3-pointers as Connecticut scored 21 of the first 33 points of the second quarter to take a 52-42 lead. The Sun boosted their lead to 13 points before Mabrey and Sabally each made a driving layup.

--Field Level Media