Paige Bueckers showcased a stellar performance in the second half, scoring all 22 of her points to lead the Dallas Wings to a 94-88 victory over Toronto on Wednesday. The win handed the expansion team, Tempo, their 10th consecutive loss.
Struggling in the first half by missing all seven of her shots, Bueckers bounced back in the third quarter, going 4 of 4 from both the field and the free-throw line to contribute 13 crucial points. This helped the Wings halt a three-game losing streak, their longest of the season.
Arike Ogunbowale also made a significant impact, scoring 21 points with season-high free throw accuracy, going 13 of 14. Alanna Smith recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Awak Kuier added 14 points to the scoreboard.
Notably, Dallas played without key players Jessica Shepard and Azzi Fudd. Shepard sustained an ankle injury in the previous game against Minnesota, while Fudd has been sidelined for three games due to a knee injury.
Marina Mabrey led the charge for the Tempo, scoring 14 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter, helping the team narrow the gap to three points after being down by 18 late in the third quarter.
Bueckers displayed versatility by recording eight assists and three steals, one of which led to a crucial breakaway layup that extended the Wings’ lead to 10 points with just over three minutes left in the game. Despite a late surge by the Tempo to reduce the deficit to four points, Bueckers’ timely jumper restored the Wings’ six-point lead before a charge was called on Isabelle Harrison.
Bueckers’ second-half performance was impressive, shooting 7 of 11 from the field and making all seven of her free throws. Laura Juskaite contributed 18 points, and Kia Nurse added 16 for Toronto, who were missing starters Brittney Sykes and Julie Allemand.