Dream-Sun Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Jul 16 2010 11:27PM

After a long road trip, the Connecticut Sun have a golden opportunity to make up ground in the Eastern Conference over the next month.

In the first of two home games against the conference leaders in July, the Sun open a five-game homestand Saturday against the Atlanta Dream.

Connecticut (11-8) went 2-4 on a road trip that started with a 77-68 loss to New York on June 27 and ended with a 77-68 win over Indiana on Wednesday. The Sun, who lost the previous three, are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Liberty for the final playoff spot in the East and are two games behind Atlanta (14-7).

"The whole Eastern Conference is a dog fight," coach Mike Thibault said. "We needed (Wednesday's victory) badly, and it was a great win for us."

Connecticut has won seven of eight at home this season, losing only to Chicago on June 22. Two of the Sun's games during this five-game homestand will be against the Dream, who lost 89-70 to Indiana on Friday.

"At least now we get to go home," Thibault said. "We've been good at home."

Thibault's club is facing Atlanta at an opportune time as the Dream have stumbled, losing three of four to see their lead over second-place Washington cut to one-half game. However, they have won both meetings with the Sun, including a 108-103 overtime victory at home on July 7.

Atlanta was kept to its fewest points in more than a month Friday, shooting 39 percent in the loss to the Fever. The Dream, who were outscored 23-10 in the final quarter, had 21 turnovers and were held to more than 16 points below their season average.

Atlanta was coming off an 83-81 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday in which it fell behind by 14 points in the first half.

"Just disappointed with our play,'' said Angel McCoughtry, who scored 27 points but had seven of the team's turnovers. ``We have a second half of the season to play. We need to keep our heads up.''

Iziane Castro Marques, who entered sixth in the league in scoring at 18 points per game, was held to five on 2-of-11 shooting. She'll try to bounce back Saturday after scoring 32 points against the Sun last week.

McCoughtry has been even more dominant against Connecticut, scoring 32 in each of the wins. She's averaged 26.0 points in her last four games overall.

Sancho Lyttle, who missed her team's game against the Sun with the after effects of a concussion, came off the bench Friday and had 10 points, four rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes. She scored 27 points in a May 21 win over Connecticut.

Charles' double-double helps Sun rally past Dream

Posted Jul 17 2010 9:24PM

UNCASVILLE, Conn.(AP) Tina Charles had 22 points and 14 rebounds to help the Connecticut Sun rally for a 96-80 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday night.

Kara Lawson scored 18 points, Asjha Jones added 15 and Sandrine Gruda 14 as the Sun (12-8) improved to 8-1 at home and beat the Dream for the first time in three meetings this season. Connecticut moved one game behind first-place Washington and Atlanta in the Eastern Conference, and a half-game behind third-place Indiana.

Angel McCoughtry scored 27 points to lead Atlanta (14-8), which lost its third straight and dropped percentage points behind the Mystics. Sancho Lyttle added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

• Dream: --
• Sun: --

• Dream: --
• Sun: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• Officials: #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #49 Kevin Sparrock, #53 Jeff Smith
• Attendance: 7378
• Duration: 1:53