Toronto Tempo edged Portland Fire 82-79, snapping a 12-game losing streak behind Isabelle Harrison’s 25-point, 10-rebound double-double.
The Toronto Tempo snapped a 12-game losing streak with a hard-fought 82-79 victory over the Portland Fire on Friday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Isabelle Harrison powered the Tempo with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Bridget Carleton led the Fire with 18 points in a game that wasn’t decided until the final possessions.
Portland Fire: Short-Handed but Competitive
The Portland Fire (15-21, 6-11 Western Conference) entered Friday’s contest severely shorthanded, with eight players listed as out: Aneesah Morrow, Brittney Sykes, Zaay Green, Marina Mabrey, Maria Conde, Luisa Geiselsoder, Sarah Ashlee Barker, and Sania Feagin. Despite the depleted rotation, the Fire pushed the Tempo to the wire in a three-point loss.
Bridget Carleton led Portland with 18 points, while Carla Leite dished out a team-high 6 assists. Megan DiLeo pulled down a team-best 6 rebounds. The Fire showed resilience, battling back from deficits and keeping the game close until the final buzzer, but ultimately couldn’t overcome the combination of Harrison’s dominance and their own short bench.
Toronto Tempo: Harrison’s Double-Double Ends the Drought
For the Toronto Tempo (11-25, 5-11 Eastern Conference), the win was a long time coming. Isabelle Harrison was unstoppable, recording a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Julie Allemand orchestrated the offense with 6 assists, helping the Tempo snap their 12-game skid in front of the home crowd in Vancouver.
Toronto also had to manage their own injury woes, with the same eight players listed as out for both teams (as per the box score), but Harrison’s performance and Allemand’s playmaking proved to be the difference. The Tempo improved to 5-11 in Eastern Conference play with the victory.
Turning Point: Harrison Takes Over in the Fourth
The game was tightly contested throughout, but the turning point came in the fourth quarter when Isabelle Harrison asserted herself. She scored key baskets down the stretch, and her rebounding on both ends of the floor limited Portland’s second-chance opportunities. The Fire, playing with a thin rotation, couldn’t find an answer for Harrison’s post presence, and Toronto was able to maintain a slim lead in the final minutes.
Portland had chances to tie or take the lead in the closing seconds, but a final three-point attempt missed, sealing the 82-79 result. The Fire’s short-handed effort was commendable, but ultimately they fell short in a game that could have significant playoff implications.
Key Stats and Performances
- Isabelle Harrison (TOR): 25 points, 10 rebounds — double-double and game-high scorer.
- Bridget Carleton (POR): 18 points — led the Fire in scoring.
- Julie Allemand (TOR): 6 assists — team-high for the Tempo.
- Carla Leite (POR): 6 assists — team-high for the Fire.
- Megan DiLeo (POR): 6 rebounds — team-best for Portland.
What It Means for Both Teams
For Toronto, the win snaps a 12-game losing streak and provides a much-needed boost of confidence. They’ll host the Las Vegas Aces (25-13) on Saturday, Aug. 23, a much tougher opponent, but they can take momentum from this performance. Harrison’s continued production will be key.
For Portland, the loss drops them to 15-21, and they remain 5th in the Western Conference. With eight players still sidelined, the Fire will need to find more scoring punch if they hope to stay in the playoff picture. They return home to face the Washington Mystics (21-15) on Sunday, Aug. 23, in a non-conference matchup that could be pivotal for their postseason hopes.
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