Dream-Shock Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Jul 25 2011 2:13PM

The Atlanta Dream headed into the All-Star break with their longest win streak of the season. A matchup with the WNBA's worst team should provide a good opportunity to add to that run.

The Dream seek their fourth straight victory when they visit the Tulsa Shock, losers of nine in a row, on Tuesday night.

Injuries contributed to Atlanta (6-9) getting off to a slow start, but the Dream and Angel McCoughtry appear to have found their groove of late.

McCoughtry, third in the league with 21.1 points per game in 2010, was hindered by a knee injury suffered in training camp and averaged 15.5 points and 35.9 percent shooting in her first 11 games.

The All-Star forward has powered her team offensively during the win streak, however, averaging 24.0 points and shooting 44.4 percent. She scored a season-high 33 in an 86-79 win at Washington on Wednesday, also establishing season bests of 10 field goals, 11 free throws made and 17 free-throw attempts.

"Before the game, I was thinking how I heard Michael Jordan say one time, he always picked his spots before the game - and that's what I did,'' McCoughtry said. "I picked my spots where I would probably hit the most shots."

Lindsey Harding, one of two Dream players to start all 15 games, has contributed three straight double-digit scoring performances after totaling eight points in the two previous contests. She had 14 points and went 6 for 12 from the field Wednesday.

A coaching change hasn't had any effect on the Shock (1-14), losers of four straight since Teresa Edwards took over for Nolan Richardson. An 88-57 defeat to New York in their last game July 17 was their fourth by 30 or more points.

"No one likes to lose, and the way we're losing sometimes can really be deflating," forward Tiffany Jackson said.

The Shock are near the bottom of the league with 69.9 points per game, 38.8 percent shooting, 85.3 points allowed and a 49.5 opponents' field-goal percentage.

They've tried shaking up their roster, waiving former Olympic sprinter Marion Jones on Thursday, and they've brought in former WNBA finals MVP Betty Lennox, Karima Christmas and Abi Olajuwon, daughter of former NBA All-Star Hakeem Olajuwon.

Ivory Latta, averaging a team-high 14.6 points, could provide a boost Tuesday as she's expected to play after sitting out five games with a staph infection.

Atlanta took both matchups with Tulsa last season thanks in part to Iziane Castro Marques, who scored 20.5 points per game in the series - more than 12 above her season average.

McCoughtry scores 37 as Dream hold off Shock

Posted Jul 27 2011 12:05AM

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Angel McCoughtry scored a career-high 37 points as the Atlanta Dream held off the struggling Tulsa Shock 76-68 on Tuesday night.

McCoughtry, whose output was the highest in the WNBA this season, shot 11 for 22 from the field and 15 for 19 on free throws. Her six points in the final 4:20 proved to be the difference for the Dream (7-9), who won their fourth straight overall and second in a row on the road.

``Every win is big in this league for everybody,'' McCoughtry said. ``It's not like college where there are set teams you know will always win. For us, this game gave us a little more confidence. The chemistry is coming.''

Coco Miller added 12 points for the Dream. Erika DeSouza, Atlanta's starting center, played just 11 minutes because team officials said she was battling a headache. Former Oklahoma star Courtney Paris scored six points on 3-for-5 shooting.

``It feels good to be back in Oklahoma,'' Paris said. ``It's cool to see the OU players and all the people that supported me in college. It's been fun. I had no idea I would end up on Atlanta but it's been fun. We're on a little roll with four wins.''

Rookie center Liz Cambage scored 16 points and Sheryl Swoopes had 12 to lead the Shock (1-15). Tiffany Jackson had 11 points and a career-high 17 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double.

``She's the one player I can count on to leave everything on the floor. She plays hard all the time,'' Edwards said of Jackson. ``She's been playing like an All-Star all season. She's getting it done in practice and brings it to the game.''

Swoopes also had five rebounds to top 1,500 for her career and Ivory Latta scored nine points to get to 1,000 in her career.

Tulsa nearly rallied from a 19-point deficit with a 15-1 run in the final period as Cambage scored eight points in the final 8 minutes.

``I wanted us to attack from the start,'' Edwards said. ``I wanted us to go inside-out to give us the high-percentage opportunity. If it's not there, kick it out. We still have a tendency to get away from our offense. We're learning.''

• Dream: --
• Shock: --

• Dream: --
• Shock: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
• Officials: #18 Kurt Walker, #21 Byron Jarrett, #8 Daryl Humphrey
• Attendance: 3435
• Duration: 2:03