The only thing the Dream lost Friday night was the opening tip.
From that point forward, they never trailed in a dominant 92-59 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks at Philips Arena.
The win not only forged a franchise record for margin of victory (33), it marked the Dream’s (4-5) sixth consecutive victory against the Sparks dating to Aug. 23, 2009. And in the early going the Dream made sure to snuff out any thoughts the Sparks (7-2) may have had of ending that losing streak.
The Dream got off to a strong start even though Angel McCoughtry was on the bench to begin the game, jumping to an 8-0 edge before their star came in at the 7:19 mark.
"The only thing I can tell you is that it was a violation of team rules," Dream coach Marynell Meadors said when asked why McCoughtry did not start Friday's contest. Meadors refused to comment whether McCoughtry's removal from the starting lineup would last more than one game.
It didn’t take long for McCoughtry to make her presence known against the Sparks, as she quickly scored seven consecutive points — which included a 3-pointer as she was knocked to the ground — to extend the Dream’s lead to 15-4. McCoughtry finished with 10 points in the opening quarter, a period in which the Dream seemingly could do no wrong.
The Dream made half of their field-goal attempts (11-of-22) and committed only one turnover. The Sparks, on the other hand, were 5-for-17 (29.4 percent) from the field and gave the ball away seven times to help the Dream end the quarter with a 28-12 advantage.
By halftime, the Dream had increased their lead by one point, going to the locker room ahead 47-28. Guards Lindsey Harding and Armintie Price continually attacked the basket in the second quarter while McCoughtry chipped in four more points to cap a 14-point first-half performance.
McCoughtry piled on 17 points in the second half to end with 31, marking the ninth time in as many games that she has tallied double-figures. Friday was the second time this season she has scored more than 30, following her 33-point outburst against Chicago on June 2.
Harding (18) and Sancho Lyttle (13) also posted double-digit scoring efforts.
"I was really proud of the way she played," Meadors said of Harding. "She led, directed and motivated her teammates, and I thought she did a good job setting them up and helping to make them successful."
While McCoughtry and the Dream scored with relative ease, Sparks star Candace Parker had no such luck. She entered Friday’s game off a stellar showing against the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, which saw her score 33 points, grab 16 rebounds and dish out eight assists in her team’s 87-81 win.
Against the Dream, she compiled nine points, five rebounds and one assist. She was not the only Sparks star to struggle, though, as guard Kristi Toliver amassed only four points, well under her season average of 17.8 per game. Meadors credited Price for keeping Toliver in-check while Lyttle did her part to stymie Parker.
"I though Price did a great job of making her take very difficult shots. She always had a hand in [Toliver's] face," Meadors said. "And I thought that Sancho Lyttle did a super job on Candace Parker, not letting her have her way and get the easy shots she's been having."
About the Author
