MINNEAPOLIS — The Dream no longer has any margin for error. Not after losing the first two games of the WNBA finals to the Minnesota Lynx.
Entering Wednesday night’s Game 2, Dream players hoped that the return of center Erika de Souza from her stint with the Brazilian National Team, along with a few adjustments, would be enough to even the series.
Yet, even with de Souza’s return, the Dream couldn’t close the game out in the fourth quarter. This time, their five-point lead through three quarters turned into a 101-95 loss to the Lynx.
The Dream lost despite getting a dominant performance from Angel McCoughtry. After scoring 33 points in Game 1, McCoughtry responded by scoring 38 in Game 2.
As a result, the Dream will return home for Friday’s Game 3 trailing 2-0 in the series and hoping to force a Game 4, which would be Sunday afternoon. In addition, the loss was the Dream’s fifth consecutive in the WNBA finals, after being swept a year ago by Seattle.
De Souza, who missed the final two games of the Eastern Conference finals and Sunday’s Game 1 while helping Brazil qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds in her return. Lindsey Harding added 14 for the Dream.
Collins Hill grad and WNBA rookie of the year Maya Moore got in early foul trouble for Minnesota. After being called for three fouls in the first quarter, Moore didn’t play in the second quarter and was limited to eight points in 15 minutes of action.
With 4:53 left, the Dream took an 85-81 lead when Sancho Lyttle completed a three-point play. While there was still time left, the Dream was a few defensive stops away from evening the series.
But those stops never materialized. Behind Seimone Augustus, Minnesota scored 10 consecutive points and 14 of the next 15. When Augustus, who finished with 36 points, made a pair of free throws with 1:25 to play, Minnesota’s lead was 10, at 97-87, and the Lynx had the game wrapped up. Augustus scored 15 of her points in the fourth quarter.
The Dream wouldn’t score another field goal until McCoughtry drove to the basket with 34.5 seconds left, cutting the lead to 98-90. Minnesota outscored the Dream 32-21 over the final 10 minutes.
For much of the game, it appeared McCoughtry was going to ensure that the Dream split the first two games of the series. McCoughtry had 24 points at the half and matched Sunday’s total in three quarters. McCoughtry, however, was limited to 1-for-7 shooting in the fourth quarter.
McCoughtry was much of the reason why the Dream led 58-50 at the half. The All-WNBA player delivered, scoring 24 points in the first half. McCoughtry went 8-for-9 from the floor while making a pair of 3-pointers. The second 3-point shot was a pull-up jumper that went through the net as the buzzer sounded.
Her offense was important as the Dream saw a double-digit lead vanish in the second quarter. The Dream struggled to adjust to a new officiating crew for Game 2 that called the game much tighter.
Minnesota made four free throws — including one that was the result of Dream coach Marynell Meadors receiving a technical foul — during a 14-2 run. Augustus’ three-point play with 6:12 left in the second quarter allowed the Lynx to tie the score, 36-36.
But McCoughtry scored 10 points over the final 5:55 of the half to give the Dream a cushion.
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