Guards Angel McCoughtry and Iziane Castro Marques each had 32 points and center Erika de Souza had a team high 13 rebounds as the Atlanta Dream (14-5) rallied to beat the Connecticut Sun (10-8) in an overtime thriller by a score of 108-103. The Dream’s 108 points marks the highest scoring total for the Atlanta franchise and the second most ever allowed by Connecticut. McCoughtry and Marques’ 32 point totals marks the first time that the Sun have ever allowed two players to have 30 or more points in a game. Atlanta finished the six game home stand with an impressive 5-1 record, the only loss coming by way of Chicago last weekend. The loss for Connecticut is the Sun’s third in a row and drops them to third place in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta allowed three double-digit leads to evaporate throughout the game. Two times in the first half the Dream led by as many as 11 before the Sun cut the lead to four at halftime. Atlanta started the second half on an explosive 11-0 run; growing the lead to 14 midway in the third quarter. Connecticut battled back to tie the game at 88, with just over three minutes left in the game. Atlanta played uncharacteristically all night with the loss of the multiple double-digit leads.
“We got complacent, and we didn’t stay aggressive,” said head coach Marynell Meadors following the win. “We just got a little bit relaxed out there and we can’t do that. We have to play better defense, and not let them have those open looks. They’re a really talented basketball team, but our defense needs to tighten up.”
The Sun dominated the remaining minutes of the fourth quarter, going on an 11-0 run to capture a five point lead, their biggest of the night. Atlanta responded with FG’s from McCoughtry and Marques tying the game at 95 with 31 seconds left. After a Sun turnover, the Dream had a chance to secure the victory when guard Shalee Lehning hit a put-back following a rebound in the final second of the game. The basket was called off despite the massive celebration from the Philips Arena crowd. After an official review, the ruling on the court was upheld and the game went to overtime. Atlanta outscored Connecticut in 13-8 in the period, hitting 5 out of 6 free throws and holding the Sun to zero percent shooting from the three point line.
The win ends the first half of the season for the Dream with an Eastern Conference leading 14-5 record and a game lead over Washington in the conference standings.
“Had they lost, it wouldn’t have been as much fun,” said Meadors about the upcoming all-star break. “It gives us a chance, giving them a break like this, to heal some of their injuries and their legs back under them. I think it’s coming at a good time in our season.” The Dream get a 4 day break before starting practice again for the second half of the season.
The WNBA all-star game will feature two starting Dream players, Angel McCoughtry and Izaine Castro Marques. McCoughtry will play as a member of Team USA, while Marques was selected to the WNBA All-Star roster.
“It shows that we have a great team, when we have three players going,” McCoughtry said following the win. Forward Sancho Lyttle, who did not play tonight, was selected as a member of the WNBA roster; however, she will not play in the game due to a concussion she suffered last weekend against Chicago. The “Stars at the Sun” will be played on July 10th at 3:30 pm. Following the All-Star break, the Dream will be back in action against Minnesota Lynx on July 14th.
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