TORONTO — Kahleah Copper scored 27 points, Valeriane Ayayi had a career-high 20 and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Toronto Tempo 89-80 on Saturday in a game in which both teams were without a top player.<\/p>\n
Phoenix played without Alyssa Thomas, who was suspended one game by the WNBA<\/a> for \u201crecklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area\u201d of Indiana\u2019s Caitlin Clark in the Mercury\u2019s 111-109 victory on Wednesday. <\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s Marina Mabrey<\/a> was a late scratch due to neck spasms, one game after tying the league record with 53 points<\/a> in a 125-97 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.<\/p>\n DeWanna Bonner finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Copper made two free throws and Bonner followed a 3-pointer to put Phoenix (7-13) up 78-73 with 4:07 remaining. <\/p>\n Bonner drilled another 3 for an 83-77 advantage and then missed from distance. However, Copper grabbed the rebound and scored for an 85-80 lead with 51 seconds left. Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts won a challenge that reversed a foul on the Mercury nine seconds later to help preserve the victory. <\/p>\n Copper made 10 of 15 shots with a 3-pointer and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line. Ayayi added six rebounds off the bench, and Lexi Held hit three 3s and scored 16.<\/p>\n Nyara Sabbaly had 14 points for Toronto (9-10). Rookie Tima Pouye scored a season-high 13 and Julie Allemand pitched in with 11 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.<\/p>\n Phoenix: Hosts the Seattle Storm on Thursday.<\/p>\n Toronto: Hosts the Dallas Wings on July 5.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n