Dream-Liberty Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted May 22 2010 1:01PM

The Atlanta Dream are off to the best start in their brief history, but staying unbeaten during an upcoming stretch won't be easy.

The Dream embark on a difficult four-game road trip Sunday by trying to post their first win at Madison Square Garden over the New York Liberty.

Atlanta (3-0) has come a long way from its 2008 expansion season, when it went a league-worst 4-30. The Dream are currently tied atop the Eastern Conference with Washington, and succeeding without Chamique Holdsclaw.

Holdsclaw, who was second on the team with an average of 13.9 points last season, was released Wednesday. The former No. 1 overall pick sat out Atlanta's first two games, and said she could no longer play for the team because of a falling out with coach-general manager Marynell Meadors.

The loss of the six-time All-Star hasn't seemed to hurt much. After winning its first two games by a combined nine points, Atlanta easily defeated Connecticut 97-82 on Friday.

The Dream led by as many as 27 points, shot 53.4 percent for the game, and caught the Sun off guard by pushing the ball up the court. Atlanta had 31 fast-break points Friday after combining for 31 in its first two games.

"I don't think there is anyone in the league that is faster than us,'' Meadors said.

Angel McCoughtry led the way with 32 points and 10 rebounds, while Sancho Lyttle added 27 and 17.

"We like to get out and run," Lyttle said. "We have young legs, so hopefully that will be to our advantage.''

The Dream now must find a way to keep their legs fresh for a grueling road trip.

After playing at MSG, the Dream face defending champion Phoenix followed by matchups with Los Angeles and Seattle. Atlanta is a combined 2-7 in these cities, and winless in three games in New York.

The Dream went 1-3 against the Liberty last season with Lyttle averaging 11.5 points in those contests.

New York (1-1) couldn't find a way to score late in a disappointing 77-61 loss to the Mystics on Friday.

The Liberty tied the score at 61 on Essence Carson's 3-pointer with 6:21 left in the fourth quarter, but missed its final nine shots and turned the ball over three times.

"I'm glad it's the second game of the season and not the 14th,'' guard Cappie Pondexter said. "A lot to improve on, but staying positive. A lot more basketball ahead of us.''

Pondexter led the Liberty with 14 points after scoring 22 in last Sunday's 85-82 season-opening win over Chicago.

Pondexter, who was acquired from Phoenix in the offseason, averaged just 8.5 points on 8 for 20 shooting in two games against the Dream with the Mercury in 2009.

McCoughtry, DeSouza help Dream improve to 4-0

By VIN A. CHERWOO
Posted May 23 2010 6:33PM

NEW YORK(AP) Angel McCoughtry scored 21 points, Erika DeSouza had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and the Atlanta Dream remained undefeated with an 86-77 victory over the New York Liberty on Sunday.

Iziane Castro Marques scored nine of her 13 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes for Atlanta (4-0), which is off to the best start in the franchise's three-year history. Alison Bales also had 10 rebounds to help the Dream remain one of two unbeaten teams left, along with Seattle (3-0).

Cappie Pondexter scored 21 points to lead New York (1-2), which has lost consecutive games after winning its opener. Nicole Powell had 17 points and Janel McCarville added 16.

Powell and McCarville made jumpers nearly 1 1/2 minutes apart to tie the score at 67-67 with 5:53 left.

McCoughtry made free throws and Castro Marques hit a 3-pointer to give the Dream their biggest lead at 72-67 with just under 5 minutes to go. Castro Marques made another 3 and a free throw to stretch the advantage to 81-75 with 53.7 seconds left.

After Taj McWilliams-Franklin's layup pulled New York within four, the Dream scored the final five points to seal the win.

Atlanta finished 4-30 in its inaugural season after starting 0-17. Last year, the Dream split their first four games and didn't get their fourth victory until the eighth game.

The Liberty scored the first four points of the second half to take their biggest lead of the game at 46-37 on McWilliams-Franklin's layup with 8 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

Trailing 55-48, the Dream scored 10 consecutive points over a 1:22 stretch to take a three-point lead. Armintie Price had consecutive fastbreak layups to tie the score, and then Shalee Lehning hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:29 left in the third. It was Atlanta's first lead since 4-2 a minute into the game.

Alison Bales' 3 with 1:57 left in the third pushed the Dream's advantage to 61-57.

Pondexter capped a 7-0 run with two free throws and a layup to give the Liberty a 31-23 lead, their biggest of the first half, with 5:21 to go in the second quarter. New York matched the eight-point lead four more times in the half.

Pondexter scored 13 points and Powell had 10 to help the Liberty take a 42-37 lead at halftime. New York shot 50 percent (15 for 30) from the floor.

McCoughtry led the Dream with 10. Atlanta shot 41 percent (13 for 32), including just 1 for 6 on 3s.

• Dream: --
• Liberty: --

• Dream: --
• Liberty: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Officials: #38 Lamont Simpson, #44 Felicia Grinter, #25 Marcus Clayton
• Attendance: 9548
• Duration: 2:6