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For the third time in WNBA history, a player has scored 53 points.
Toronto Tempo star Marina Mabrey tied the single-game scoring record with 53 points in a dominant 125-94 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night. Only A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage have reached that 53-point mark before Mabrey.
Mabrey, who poured in nine three-pointers in the win, helped the Tempo set the highest point total scored in a regulation game in WNBA history. The Phoenix Mercury scored 127 points in a 2010 game, though it was double overtime.
Mabrey was clearly feeling it in this game, scoring 27 points by halftime. Then, she poured in 12 more by the end of the third quarter, giving herself an incredible 39 points.
With the game seemingly out of reach, it was clear that the Tempo were feeding Mabrey in hopes that she could set a new WNBA record. Mabrey was launching three-pointers and drilling them, and she ultimately reached the 53-point mark as the crowd cheered her on throughout the flurry of points.
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Mabrey had time to get the record all to herself, as there were about two minutes left on the clock to get the job done. However, her last two three-point attempts didn’t go through the hoop, and she checked out of the game with just over a minute left to play.
The crowd gave her a loud roar of approval and a standing ovation, while Mabrey’s Tempo teammates congratulated the veteran on a historic night.
It was also a special night thanks to Mabrey’s sister, Michaela, who starred alongside her at Notre Dame after the two rose through the New Jersey girls basketball ranks, being in attendance.
Michaela ran right onto the floor after the final horn blew and hugged her sister in a heartfelt moment that will surely be remembered by the Mabrey family.
Mabrey stated in a post-game interview that her sister doesn’t get to see her play too often, making this one that much more special.
“None of this happens without my teammates. They really found me,” Marina said. “For a three-point shooter, you need your teammates to set screens and deliver the pass, and that’s what they did.”
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It’s the inaugural season for the Tempo, an expansion team that put together this squad through an expansion draft. Mabrey has been a key cog in their early season, totaling 37 points last week to set the franchise’s highest point total for a game. That’s obviously going to be much harder to break now.
Mabrey’s final line read 17-of-28 and 9-of-18 from three-point territory for her 53-point total. She also tallied six rebounds and two assists in the victory.
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