The Toronto Tempo were unable to capitalize on a strong first half, falling 79-62 to the Washington Mystics at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Tuesday night. Toronto carried a 32-26 lead into halftime but struggled offensively after the break as Washington dominated the final two quarters.
The Mystics took control with a balanced attack led by rookie forward Kiki Iriafen, who finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Shakira Austin added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Michaela Onyenwere chipped in 15 points as Washington improved to 12-10 on the season.
Toronto’s offense went cold in the second half, shooting just 32.3 percent after halftime. Julie Allemand paced the Tempo with 15 points, but the expansion club struggled to generate consistent scoring opportunities against Washington’s defense.
The loss snapped the momentum Toronto had built after its dramatic victory over the New York Liberty on Sunday. Despite the setback, the Tempo continue to show flashes of promise in their inaugural WNBA season and will look to bounce back in their next home game against the Atlanta Dream on Friday night.
