TORONTO — Shakira Austin sank a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left to play because the Washington Mystics spoiled the Toronto Tempo’s WNBA debut with a 68-65 victory on Friday.
Austin was then fouled once more, making two extra free throws with 10 seconds to go to clinch the Mystics win.
Austin and Kiki Iriafen every had a double-double for Washington (1-0) within the season opener for each groups. Austin had 18 factors and 11 rebounds. Iriafen had 12 factors and 16 boards.
Marina Mabrey led all scorers with 27 factors and pulled down seven boards for the growth Tempo (0-1).
Brittney Sykes sank the first-ever basket in franchise historical past in entrance of a sold-out crowd of 8,210 at Coca-Cola Coliseum. She completed with 14 factors.
Hamilton’s Kia Nurse, the one Canadian on Toronto’s roster, got here off the bench with two factors, a rebound and an help.
Mystics: Washington’s superior taking pictures carried the day, with the Mystics going 25 for 64 (39.1 per cent) on field-goal makes an attempt, together with 5 for twenty-four (20.8 per cent) on three-pointers. Oddly, they struggled on the free-throw line, going 13 for 22 (59.1 per cent).
Tempo: Though the growth group’s roster was simply constructed inside the previous month, Toronto’s emphasis on buying veterans helped with its depth. The Tempo’s bench outscored their opponents 11-4.
Laura Juskaite’s three-pointer with 1:53 left within the sport tied it 63-63 for Toronto. Mabrey grabbed a defensive rebound on the following Washington possession, resulting in a Tempo timeout. Iriafen sank a free throw with 1:04 to play for a slender one-point Mystics lead, however Mabrey answered with a pair of free throws of her personal earlier than earlier than Austin clinched it.
Washington greater than doubled Toronto’s factors within the paint, 40-16.
Toronto: Hosts the Seattle Storm on Wednesday.
Washington: Hosts the New York Liberty on Sunday.
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