Noemie Brochart and Shay Ciezki both contributed 15 points as the Phoenix Mercury dominated the Toronto Tempo with a resounding 101-69 victory on Saturday night. This win marked the second-largest margin of victory for Phoenix this season, following their impressive 99-66 season opener against the Las Vegas Aces.
In addition to Brochart and Ciezki’s stellar performance, Sami Whitcomb added 14 points, while reserves Marta Suarez and Maddy Westbeld chipped in with 13 and 12 points respectively. Lexi Held also made a notable impact with 11 points for the Mercury (14-26), putting an end to their previous four-game losing streak.
Alyssa Thomas showcased her playmaking skills by distributing 12 assists, marking her 11th game this season with 10 or more assists. On the Tempo side, Isabelle Harrison notched 16 points and 10 rebounds, Kiki Rice scored 14 points, and Laura Juskaite contributed 10 points. The Tempo (11-29) were looking to bounce back from a 93-73 defeat to Las Vegas the night before.
Unfortunately, the Tempo continued to struggle without their leading scorer Marina Mabrey, who averages 20.8 points per game and has been sidelined due to an adductor injury, missing the last six games.
Phoenix took control early in the game, establishing a commanding 21-8 lead and never relinquishing it. They maintained a 27-17 lead after the first quarter, extending it to 58-35 by halftime. A dominant 30-point third quarter further solidified their lead, ending with a commanding 88-49 advantage at the conclusion of the third quarter.
