Carla Leite delivered an impressive performance with 27 points and 11 assists as the Portland Fire ended their five-game losing streak with a 97-83 victory over Toronto. The win marked Toronto Tempo’s eighth consecutive loss. Leite showcased her skills by making 5 of 12 shots, including two 3-pointers, and sinking 15 of 17 free throws for Portland (11-19). The Fire had previously triumphed over the Tempo with a 99-80 score in their initial encounter on May 23 in Toronto.
Megan DiLeo contributed 17 points to Portland’s win, while Bridget Carleton recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Frieda Buhner, coming off the bench, added 10 points to the scoreboard.
Toronto (10-21) saw Nyara Sabally scoring 17 points, but the team suffered its 12th loss in the last 13 games. Julie Allemande chipped in with 11 points and 12 assists.
In a competitive first quarter, DiLeo’s eight points on 4-for-5 shooting helped Portland secure a narrow 25-23 lead. Buhner’s 3-pointer extended Portland’s lead to 45-35, and a buzzer-beater jumper by Leite pushed the halftime score to 51-37 in favor of the Fire.
By the end of the third quarter, Leite had accumulated 20 points, leading the Fire to a commanding 81-59 advantage. Aneesah Morrow provided a spark for Toronto off the bench with 11 points, closing the gap to 91-83 with 3:08 remaining, but Portland maintained control till the end.
Next up, the Tempo will face the Atlanta Dream on Monday, while the Fire will host the Seattle Storm on Saturday.