The Dream’s talk turned into action in Game 1 of the WNBA Eastern Conference semifinals against Connecticut on Friday.
Do it again in Game 2 on Sunday at Philips Arena, and the Dream are on their way to the East finals for the second year in a row.
In Game 1 point guard Lindsey Harding’s teammates fed off her aggressive play just as she planned. The Dream showed they can be a rugged rebounding team as coach Marynell Meadors said. And center Erika de Souza made good on her promise to hold her own against Connecticut star Tina Charles.
About the only thing that didn’t go according to plan was All-Star forward Angel McCoughtry’s foul trouble. But even that didn’t matter as the Dream pulled away to an 89-84 victory in the building where the Sun lost only twice in 17 regular-season games.
Second-seeded Connecticut faces elimination in the best-of-seven series.
“The irony is that we fought to get home-court advantage in the first round and now we have to win a game on the road to stay alive,” Suns guard Renee Montgomery told reporters after Game 1. “I don’t think anyone is feeling like we can’t do it.”
The Dream closed the season with six consecutive home victories, including two against Connecticut. They won at Connecticut for the first time this season by controlling the boards (46-29 advantage), running the break (17-2 points edge) and slowing Charles (12 points).
McCoughtry, who averaged nearly 30 points in four regular-season games against the Sun, went to the bench with her fifth foul and 9:10 to play. She didn’t return until the final minute as the Dream overwhelmed Connecticut with an 11-4 run.
McCoughtry’s sub, Iziane Castro Marques, made a pair of 3-pointers during the burst. The second field goal put the Dream up for good at 72-70.
“[McCoughtry’s] demeanor on the bench was ‘Coach, they are doing good, don’t put me back in,’” Meadors said. “She’s all about wins and whoever is on the court, she is supporting them 100 percent. That’s characteristic of this team. I don’t think they care who scores or rebounds. They are all striving for that ‘W.’”
Harding scored 10 of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter.
“When it comes down to it, you just have to do it [yourself] sometimes. You can’t wait on anybody,” Harding said. “You can wait and wait and when all of a sudden you are like, ‘I wish I could have done this, I wish I could have done that.’ I don’t ever want that when I’m finished playing.”
Before the game de Souza, in response to a question about defending Charles, said through an interpreter: “I think she has to be concerned about me, too, and not just me about her.” She backed it up with 16 points and nine rebounds compared with 12 points and seven rebounds for Charles, an MVP candidate.
About the Author
