The Dream finally got off to a fast start and as a result a tired Chicago team didn’t stand a chance on Saturday at Philips Arena.
Angel McCoughtry scored 20 points and Sancho Lyttle added 15 more with 12 rebounds as the Dream used season-highs for points in the first quarter and the first half to run away from the Sky 97-59. Erika de Souza had 20 points, Tiffany Hayes 11 and Shoni Schimmel 10 as Atlanta set a season high for points scored (previously 93) and a season low for points allowed (previously 75). They also set a franchise record for margin of victory (38) and tied a record for rebounds (51).
“Our team is definitely getting better,” Dream coach Michael Cooper said. “Slowly but surely you can see that we are starting to understand each other out on the floor. Our chemistry is growing.”
Atlanta (5-3) uncharacteristically quickly found its rhythm in the first quarter, racing out to a 30-16 lead. It was the most points scored by the Dream in any quarter this season, nine more than their previous first-quarter high and almost 12 more than their season average for the opening period.
Perhaps sensing Chicago’s (5-3) fatigue after losing to Los Angeles 102-88 on Friday, the Dream aggressively drove to the basket on offense and were just as quick with their hands on defense. Atlanta posted nine second-chance points in the quarter and five steals.
The Dream didn’t let up in the second quarter. They used a 7-0 run, capped by an acrobatic layup by McCoughtry, to take a 37-19 lead.
Atlanta’s defense gave Elena Delle Donne, who was coming off a career-high 33 points in the loss to Los Angeles, little room. McCoughtry jumped out on Delle Donne whenever she got the ball, and frequently was able to slap the ball away from her or force her into uncomfortable situations. Delle Donne tied a career-low with seven points on 3-of-10 shooting.
“We wanted to keep a fresh body on her,” Cooper said. “We understand they played last night so we wanted to bang her around.”
Cooper said Chicago playing on Friday didn’t affect his strategy.
“We are a running team anyway,” he said. “We wanted to amp that up ever more. We understand the dynamics of going back to back. We knew it was going to be difficult for them. We wanted to push tempo and not rush into hurried shots, but make them get back on defense.”
The Dream pushed the lead to 49-27 on a 3-pointer by McCoughtry after three offensive rebounds kept the play alive. Her basket ended a 9-0 run. The Dream led 56-31 at halftime.
Atlanta increased the lead to 69-41 midway through the third quarter on a layup by Jasmine Thomas from an assist by Lyttle.
In addition to an easy win, Dream fans got their first extended look at point guard Celine Dumerc, a native of France who recently joined the team. She played six minutes in the win against Los Angeles on Tuesday, just two days after joining the team. She played more than 13 against Chicago. Despite having limited experience with her teammates, Dumerc’s positioning and communication on defense was solid. She drew two charges in the first half.
“Day after day I feel more comfortable,” Dumerc said. “I just hope that I’m helping them. I like to bring defense and will bring energy on that. We have lots of weapons on offense.”
At times, Cooper and Dumerc and Schimmel on the court at the same time. He said he likes that combo because Dumeric looks to pass more, while Schimmel is a good passer who can also hit 3-pointers.
“It’s a great win to just go out there and dominate somebody,” Schimmel said.
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