Brittney Sykes leads Tempo to OT win over Sun
Not even four ice bags wrapped around both knees and ankles could cool down Brittney Sykes after her all-world performance for the expansion Toronto Tempo on Wednesday.
About 10 minutes earlier, Sykes scorched the last-place Connecticut Sun, matching her career high of 38 points in the Tempo's 106-102 victory before 8,210 at Coco-Cola Coliseum.
Toronto was behind by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, but Sykes kept her team in the game, especially with her perfect 13 for 13 from the free-throw line.
"I don't want to tell you my secret," the 32-year-old Sykes said when asked how much she works on her free throws. "I mean, no, there's no secret.
"I think I've always been a good free-throw shooter. My career (average) is like 75 per cent, and I think I got to 81 one year. But I just wanted to push myself. My goal is 50 (per cent on field goals), 40 (from three-point range) and 90 (on free throws). I got the 90, but I'm far away from the 40 right now."
Sykes calmly hit four free throws in the final 79 seconds to send the game into overtime, and nailed three more in the five minutes of extra time. The sellout crowd was silent each time she stepped to the line.
"I hope the fans hear this. Never that quiet," said Sykes, whose nickname is Slim. "I always have some self-talk at the free-throw line.
"But the pin drop silence, I was like, `damn."'
But what was she thinking at the line, late with the game on the line?
"I just was like, `bro, you're a 91 percent free-throw shooter,"' she said. "So I just took a deep breath and just shot it, and every time it went in. I just trust the work."
Sykes is a big reason the expansion Tempo have won four of their last five and occupies seventh place in the 15-team league. The veteran was signed to a two-year deal on April 10.
Her first 38-point game was against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 17. She sits third in the league with 21.6 points per game.
Sykes has the full confidence of her coach, but her coach has also been a calming influence on their stint together in Toronto.
"She knows I have her back," Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello said. "I gave her a look a few times and complimented her on certain things.
"She's just a true competitor, and I'm pretty calm. It probably helps her because sometimes she's not so calm, but I think she's controlled her emotions. She just poured it all into being the best she could tonight, and I think that was great."
cbc.ca
