The Dream (16-9) snapped a four-game losing streak with an 89-80 win over the Connecticut Sun (10-17) on Tuesday at Philips Arena.
A basket in the first minute of the second quarter from Dream guard Angel McCoughtry gave Atlanta the lead after being tied at 21 after the first quarter. From that point on the size of the lead fluctuated but the Dream always led the noon game.
“We wanted to get more points in the paint, attacking the basket and they did well with that,” assistant coach Karleen Thompson said. “Getting the ball into our post and our guards attacking from the perimeter. We got out and ran and we controlled the boards.”
Even though Atlanta’s last victory came July 13 against the Chicago Sky, the Dream remains No. 1 in the Eastern conference.
“We’ve got to get that momentum back and it’s getting late in the season and people are scratching and clawing to make the playoffs, because we’ve been feeling it,” McCoughtry said. “People are scratching and clawing at our heads so we had to wake up and smell the coffee.”
It was a 3-pointer by McCoughtry that tied the Sun and the Dream at 21 in the final five seconds of the first quarter. The Dream led 44-41 at the end of the first half.
Throughout the third quarter, the Sun kept the game close. Atlanta led Connecticut by no more than seven points and as little as two points in the third. A layup from Connecticut’s Kelsey Bone with four seconds left brought the Sun within five points at the end of the third.
The Dream started the fourth quarter with their largest lead of the game at 64-59. But the Sun closed the gap, getting within three points of Atlanta in the first minute.
With about one minute left in the game, the Dream secured an 87-77 lead with a basket from Tiffany Hayes off an assist from McCoughtry.
Unlike the Sun, who were 12 for 17 from the foul line, the Dream were productive with free throw opportunities. Atlanta ended the game making 18 of 23.
“I just think that their focus was there,” Thompson said. “We were attacking the basket, drawing the fouls and we had to focus on our free throws so they took advantage of that.”
Hayes led the Dream in free throws attempted, she made six of nine, but it was Erika de Souza who made all five of her attempts.
“If we want to be a championship team, you have to make free throws,” McCoughtry said.
McCoughtry missed just one of her five attempts.
The Dream will look to create a winning streak when they take on the Tulsa Shock (9-17) in Oklahoma on Thursday at 8 p.m.
Tuesday marked the first time the Dream have won since coach Michael Cooper announced his medical leave to receive treatment for tongue cancer. Thompson said she’ll likely call and text Cooper to talk over the game and the win.
“I always need to get some Cooper-loop,” Thompson said.
Cooper sent the team a video message earlier this week. McCoughtry said it was hard to understand what he was saying because of his tongue surgery.
“All I know is he made a joke at the end and he said ‘y’all go with my bad tongue’ and he started laughing,” McCoughtry said. “It just shows that he’s in good spirits no matter what is going on in his life.”
About the Author
