Dream-Lynx Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Jul 13 2010 2:04PM

The Atlanta Dream went into the All-Star break atop the Eastern Conference. Staying there during this upcoming stretch could be tough, especially if All-Star Sancho Lyttle is out for an extended period.

The Dream, who could again be without Lyttle, go for their sixth win in seven contests when they open a four-game road trip Wednesday against the Minnesota Lynx.

Led by the dynamic scoring combination of Angel McCoughtry and Iziane Castro Marques, Atlanta (14-5) has a one-game lead in the East.

The Dream's 5-1 surge into the break came at home, and their schedule is about to get much tougher with six of the next seven away from Atlanta. The stretch includes trips to Washington, Indiana and two games in Connecticut. Those teams are a combined 21-3 at home.

The Dream, 2-3 in their last five away from Philips Arena, are also uncertain of the status of Lyttle.

The 6-foot-4 forward, who averages 14.2 points and is second in the league in rebounding with 10.6 per game, suffered a concussion against Chicago on July 3. She was unable to play in Atlanta's final game before the break and the All-Star game.

Despite missing their top post player, the Dream managed to hold off the Sun 108-103 in overtime last Wednesday. McCoughtry and Castro Marques stepped up in Lyttle's absence, with each scoring 32.

McCoughtry, third in the league with 20.4 points per game, and Alison Bales, who started in place of Lyttle, had 10 boards apiece.

"When you don't have one of your top rebounders and scorers, it hurts,'' Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors said. "We definitely missed her.''

In her final game before being injured, Lyttle had 10 points and 14 rebounds in a 76-58 win over Minnesota on July 1. Castro Marques, sixth in the WNBA with an average of 17.8 points, led all scorers with 22.

While the Dream are opening a daunting portion of their schedule, Minnesota's appears to be getting a bit easier with the next five games coming at home.

After losing in Atlanta, the Lynx (6-11) bounced back with an 89-66 win over San Antonio on Thursday. It was Minnesota's fourth victory in six games and the club's most lopsided win of the season.

"Everybody chipped in and did little things to put this team in a position to grow and we just want to take it from here," All-Star Rebekkah Brunson told the Lynx's official website. "I think the momentum is within our grasp and we just want to carry forth with it."

Brunson had a season-best 24 points and 10 rebounds against the Silver Stars after scoring a season-low three versus the Dream. She had six points in 19 minutes for the WNBA All-Stars in Saturday's 99-72 loss to the U.S. national team.

Anosike leads Lynx late in 83-81 win over Dream

By DAVE CAMPBELL
Posted Jul 14 2010 3:36PM

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) Nicky Anosike had 16 points, a late steal and a picture-perfect assist to Rebekkah Brunson for the go-ahead layup with 7.2 seconds left to lift the Minnesota Lynx to an 83-81 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday.

Seimone Augustus scored 22 points and Lindsay Whalen added 17 points for Minnesota in this once-a-year midweek matinee, delighting the thousands of screaming kids on summer break after the Lynx squandered a 14-point first-half lead.

Anosike stole a bounce pass toward the post for Erika de Souza and drew a foul with 38.1 seconds remaining, draining both free throws to tie the game at 81. After de Souza airballed a jumper from the top of the key, with Whalen putting a hand in her face, the Lynx had the ball and set up for the winning shot.

Anosike threaded a pretty high-low pass to Brunson as she cut to the basket for the easy layup and the lead. Angel McCoughtry, who finished with 25 points for the Dream, missed an off-balance try on the other end and de Souza's short putback hit the rim.

Iziane Castro Marques had 20 points despite 13 missed field goals for the Dream, who were 1 for 18 from 3-point range and again missing starter Sancho Lyttle. But they still managed to come within six points of their scoring average with a second-half surge.

The Dream fell to 8-2 against the weaker Western Conference, and the Lynx picked up just their second win against the East this season.

After starting 2-9, the Lynx have won five of their last seven games. They're 2-0 at the beginning of a six-game homestand, after this important victory over the second-highest scoring squad in the WNBA and the Eastern Conference's first-place team.

The Dream beat the Lynx 76-58 in Atlanta on July 1, when the Lynx shot just 29.9 percent from the floor while going 2 for 18 in the first quarter. They avoided such a sluggish start this time, scoring 25 points in the first quarter.

Atlanta backup guards Kelly Miller and Coco Miller played together in their home state for the first time since they turned pro. Years before Whalen was a program-changing star at the University of Minnesota, the Miller twins became women's basketball pioneers in this state.

Kelly was a starter last season for the Lynx and then joined the Dream in March. Coco signed simultaneously.

• Dream: --
• Lynx: --

• Dream: Castro Marques, DeSouza
• Lynx: --

• Lead Changes: 16
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Officials: #38 Lamont Simpson, #11 Lauren Bass, #45 Tom Mauer
• Attendance: 12311
• Duration: 2:9