Sky-Dream Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Jul 15 2011 6:22PM

Sancho Lyttle's sore back has delayed her return to the Atlanta Dream. With the Chicago Sky's Sylvia Fowles dominating of late, it may not matter who tries to stop her.

Chicago seeks its fourth win in five games when it travels to Atlanta on Saturday night.

Fowles, the WNBA's leading scorer averaging 20.4 points, netted 21 as the Sky (7-7) beat Tulsa 72-54 on Wednesday. The 6-foot-6 center added 13 rebounds, boosting her average to 9.8 - good for third in the league.

Fowles scored 21 points in a 71-68 loss at Atlanta on June 21, but she was held to 10 points with 12 rebounds in an 81-69 home win over the Dream last Saturday.

No matter that last performance, coach Pokey Chatman said Fowles will most always be the No. 1 offensive option.

"You know, sometimes you have to play through Sylvia," Chatman said after Wednesday's win. "That doesn't mean pound the ball in there when there is five people on her. Sometimes it means reverse the ball to get the shooters wide open.

"I like how we got some deflections in the transition. And I like that we involved the entire bench to get some looks, especially going into Atlanta."

If Lyttle returns, she'll provide an inside presence for the Dream (3-9) to help slow Fowles. Lyttle hasn't played since June 14, leaving to play for Spain in an international tournament. The 6-4 forward was on the bench but did not play in a 91-69 road loss to New York on Wednesday.

Regardless of Lyttle's status, the Dream likely will need the same consistent play from Angel McCoughtry.

McCoughtry, averaging 15.5 points, was voted by the fans to start the upcoming All-Star game. She scored 17 points in the last meeting with the Sky, helping stake the Dream to a 22-10 first-quarter lead before Chicago rallied.

McCoughtry led Atlanta with 17 points Wednesday, while veteran guard Coco Miller added 15. Center Erika de Souza was held to five points.

Atlanta has lost six of eight.

"I hope we can get back on the winning track," coach Marynell Meadors said. "We struggled, we didn't play well at all (Wednesday) and we didn't defend well. Those are the things we have to have. We have to come out with more intensity and more effort."

Sky guard Epiphanny Prince scored 24 points last weekend against Atlanta and is averaging 16.6. However, Prince's defense may be her main strength, as she's leading the league averaging 3.1 steals after getting five more Wednesday.

"I am always aggressive in the help side," she said. "My teammates get their hands on a lot of balls and if I can get my hand on it, I always try to pursue the steal."

Chicago had won the previous five meetings in Atlanta before June's loss. Prince scored only 10 points but added four steals.

McCoughtry scores 24 to lead Dream over Sky 76-68

By GEORGE HENRY
Posted Jul 16 2011 11:19PM

ATLANTA (AP) Dream coach Marynell Meadors was tired of waiting for her team to play their best game of the season. Finally, she got her wish.

Angel McCoughtry scored 24 points, Lindsey Harding added 14 and the Atlanta Dream snapped a two-game losing streak with a 76-68 victory over the Chicago Sky on Saturday night. Armintie Price had 13 points and a season-high 10 assists.

``We had a valuable contribution from a lot of people since we were down to nine players,'' Meadors said. ``It was a great team win.''

Sylvia Fowles finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks for the Sky (7-8), who have lost five straight on the road. Cathrine Kraayeveld had 11 points, Michelle Snow added 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Epiphanny Prince also scored 11.

Chicago missed 11 of its first 12 shots, but overcame a 15-point first-quarter deficit by going on a 40-17 run that ended with Kraayeveld's 3-pointer to give the Sky a 42-35 lead with 7:56 left in the third.

However, Courtney Paris' layup put Atlanta (4-9) ahead 56-54 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter and the Dream never trailed again.

``We lacked focus, lacked concentration and gave up our opportunities,'' Fowles said. ``We weren't getting back in transition. We know Atlanta is a transition team, and they run on offense and have high pass action. They were doing and utilizing all the things we weren't doing.''

McCoughtry, whose steal and ensuing layup with 6:56 left put Atlanta up 62-56, ended a four-game stretch in which she scored no more than 17 points. She averaged 21.1 last year in helping the Dream win the Eastern Conference, but started the season slowly with an injured knee.

``We have been going at such a rapid pace that she hasn't been able to catch up,'' Meadors said. ``She is focusing on what we have to do, since we have our back to the wall. We have been trying to get her to play tonight like she did. She was in total control, which was very good to see.''

In the second half, McCoughtry had 16 points, four steals and four rebounds.

``We needed this,'' McCoughtry said. ``We have got to keep our confidence up and continue to play hard. If we keep the confidence, I know we can continue to do this. From this point, we just need to work on our chemistry and play together.''

Atlanta had lost four of five and is now 3-5 at home despite playing a ninth straight game without Sancho Lyttle, who didn't dress because of a sore back.

Lyttle averaged 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds last year, but she's played in only four games this season after spending a month playing for Spain's national team and returning with an aching back July 3.

There were five lead changes entering the fourth, but the Sky never led after McCoughtry's 15-footer forced a 54-54 tie in the opening seconds of the final period.

``I think we really stayed together,'' Price said. ``When we made runs, we didn't get too high or too low, so we kept our composure. We put ourselves in a good position to win the game.''

The Dream outscored Chicago 42-22 in the paint, thanks in part to Erika de Souza's 12 points. De Souza and Alison Bales each pulled down eight rebounds.

Chicago coach Pokey Chatman was proud her team fought back from the big deficit, but credited Atlanta with controlling the fourth quarter.

``They made layups a variety of ways tonight,'' Chatman said. ``And their prime players stepped up and hit shots.''

• Sky: --
• Dream: --

• Sky: --
• Dream: de Souza

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #13 Cameron Inouye, #21 Byron Jarrett, #27 Penny Davis
• Attendance: 7413
• Duration: 1:57