Tired Dream has easy win against Minnesota

By Pierce W. Huff

For the AJC

The Minnesota Lynx were just what the doctor ordered for the leg-weary Dream on Thursday: a struggling team that didn’t shoot well or put up much of a fight that allowed the Dream’s starters to get some rest.

The Dream led from start to finish and cruised to a 76-58 victory at Philips Arena.

Four Dream players scored in double figures. Iziane Castro Marques led all players with 22 points, including 11 in the first half. Erika de Souza scored 11 points. Sancho Lyttle scored 10 and had 14 rebounds. Angel McCoughtry scored 10 and had five steals.

The game was the third in five days for the Dream, who have been shortening their practices to preserve their players’ leg strength during their current stretch of home games.

The Dream, who have a four-game winning streak, play host to Chicago on Saturday.

Castro Marques said the recent schedule is having an impact on the players.

“We’re really tired, but we have to play through it,” she said.

The Dream (13-4) entered Thursday’s game leading Connecticut and Washington by 1 1/2 games. Connecticut lost to Chicago 92-80, and Washington played Phoenix late Thursday night.

Minnesota (5-11), which has lost two consecutive games after having a three-game winning streak, shot 29.9 percent (20-of-67) from the field.

“I thought our defensive effort and our ability to start the game off on the defensive end and play that way throughout the game was really huge,” Dream general manager/coach Marynell Meadors said.

The Dream held Minnesota to 11.1 percent shooting (2-of-18) from the field and forced five turnovers as they led 15-9 at the end of the first quarter.

The Dream increased their lead to 25-17 when Lyttle made a turnaround jump shot with 6:26 remaining in the second quarter.

The Dream finished the quarter with a 13-7 run to take a 38-24 lead at halftime.

Minnesota shot 25 percent (8 of 32) from the field and had 10 turnovers in the first half.

Castro Marques made a layup to increase the Dream’s lead to 48-32 in the third quarter. The Dream increased their lead to 61-41 at the end of the quarter.

“I just want to compliment our team for being ready, and even though they were tired, they were out there, and they gave it everything they had,” Meadors said.