Playing defense in the second half with more energy than at any point this season, the Dream snapped a two-game losing streak with a 72-69 victory over Washington at Philips Arena on Friday.
Led by Matee Ajavon and Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta forced the Mystics into seven turnovers and 27.3-percent shooting in the decisive third quarter in which it outscored the Mystics 21-9. Ajavon finished with a season-high 17 points, while McCoughtry added 18. Sancho Lyttle scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
“This was our best defensive effort,” coach Michael Cooper said.
Atlanta entered the game in last place in the Eastern Conference and facing the possibility of losing its fourth game at Philips Arena. That loss would be as many as the Dream had all of last year in going 13-4 at home.
Instead, the Dream improved to 4-6 and will get a long break before hosting Seattle on July 5. The game should also feature the return of two key players — starting guard Tiffany Hayes and reserve center Aneika Henry — who have missed the last five while participating in the European Games.
Things looked bad for the Dream at the start of the third quarter before a 13-0 run turned around the game.
Starting center Erika de Souza picked up her fourth foul playing defense more than 25 feet away from the basket less than 30 seconds into the second half. McCoughtry picked up her fourth foul, also playing defense near the 3-point line, less than two minutes into the start of the second half. Cooper elected to pull de Souza in favor of the smaller Cierra Burdick, which he said allowed them to defend pick and rolls in different ways, and play McCoughtry.
Washington, which had a 40-35 lead shortly after McCoughtry picked up that key foul, couldn’t take advantage.
With a smaller, quicker lineup on the floor that turned energetic defense into offense, Atlanta fought back. Ajavon score four consecutive points and the Dream took a 41-40 lead on a back-to-the-basket shot by McCoughtry, who caught the ball in traffic and scooped it up with the rim directly over her head, with 4:26 left.
Atlanta increased its lead to 46-40 on consecutive steals and layups by Ajavon and McCoughtry, and a free throw by Ajavon following another steal by Lyttle. McCoughtry followed with another basket to give the Dream a 48-40 lead. Atlanta would carry a 52-45 lead into the fourth quarter.
“That third quarter was impressive to watch,” Cooper said. “We have that kind of game in us.”
Atlanta didn’t let up.
Atlanta started the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run, including five points from Erica Wheeler, to increase its lead to 61-45.
But Washington fought back to within three after Ivory Latta hit a free throw following a technical on McCoughtry, and Emma Meesseman hit a turn-around jumper with 1:03 left.
McCoughtry hit two free throws to push the lead back to five with 42.1 seconds left and secure the win.
“It was the most active defense we’ve played,” McCoughtry said. “We were all over the place, getting steals and deflections. That’s how we usually play.”
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