Connecticut’s Aaliyah Edwards (8) had a career-high 24 points but it wasn’t enough as the Sun fell to Toronto on Wednesday night. in overtime.
Toronto guard Brittney Sykes tied her career-high with 38 points as the expansion Tempo won their seventh game of the season with a 106-104 win over the Connecticut Sun in overtime on Wednesday night.
Toronto (7-5) converted on their final 13 foul shots of the game. The Tempo were 8-for-8 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes of regulation and 5-for-5 in overtime.
Former Sun guard Marina Mabrey scored 21 points for Toronto, which erased a seven point deficit in the final 2:44.
The Sun (2-12) led by seven, 92-85 with 2:44 remaining but couldn’t make a stop to secure the win.
Aaliyah Edwards had a career-high 24 points to lead Connecticut, sinking 8-of-9 shots from the field while Leila Lacan also scored a season-high 24 points and drained four 3-point shots. Kennedy Burke and Diamond Milelr scored 11 points each while Olivia Nelson Ododa had nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
The Sun have lost four straight games and seven of their last eight contests.
Leading by seven, Toronto’s Laura Juskaite hit a three-pointer with 2:24 to cut the lead to four points. Four free throws in a span of 16 seconds from Nyara Sabally tied the game at 92-92.
Laclan hit a 20-foot pullup jumper with 1:19 remaining but Sykes hit two free throws with 36 seconds remaining to tie the game.
Edwards drove to the basket with 31 seconds left to give the Sun a 96-94 lead but Sykes hit two free throws with 27 seconds remaining to tie the game again.
Tied at 102, Sykes drove to the basket with 43 seconds remaining to put Toronto up for good. Edwards missed two free throws with 25 seconds and Kennedy Burke pulled own the rebound and missed a followup shot. A Sun turnover with 17 seconds left sealed the deal for Toronto.
Sykes had 38 points a year ago against Los Angeles on May 17 when she was playing for Seattle.
For the second consecutive game, the Sun played without Brittney Griner, out with a left rib strain, and Aneesah Morrow, out with a left leg strain. The Sun did lead by as many as 14 points in the second quarter.
Connecticut begins a six-game homestand on Saturday night when they host Caitlyn Clark and the Indiana Fever at 6 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Sun are last in the league in points per game (76.2) and three-point shooting percentage (25.7 percent) and second-to-last in points allowed per game (88.2).
