Sun-Dream Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Sep 05 2011 6:48PM

After back-to-back routs, the Connecticut Sun find themselves on the verge of moving into a first-place tie in the Eastern Conference.

Accomplishing that feat, however, could prove difficult against the red-hot Atlanta Dream, who look like a championship-caliber club following an injury-plagued start to the season.

The Sun hope to avoid a sixth consecutive loss at Philips Arena, while the Dream look to even the season series Tuesday night.

After cruising to an 83-55 victory over East-leading Indiana on Friday, Connecticut (20-12) recorded its most lopsided victory of the year Sunday, 79-48 at Washington behind 24 points and 15 rebounds from All-Star center Tina Charles.

"Tina Charles is certainly a forced to be reckoned with," Mystics coach Trudi Lacey said. "She is a legitimate candidate for MVP."

With 21 double-doubles, Charles is one away from matching the WNBA record she set last season en route to winning rookie of the year honors.

"I want to be there for my team offensively and defensively," she said. "My job is to get rebounds, and it leads to our transition and everything. So, I just go out there with the mindset just to try to get them all."

The Sun, who snapped a season worst-tying four-game road skid Sunday, can catch the idle Fever on Tuesday.

Connecticut sits two games ahead of New York and Atlanta (18-14), which secured a playoff berth and a chance to defend its conference title with Sunday's 73-52 victory over Tulsa.

"I think (Atlanta) has a great opportunity," Shock coach Teresa Edwards said. "They proved they could be successful last year. If they build on this game today, they're in a great place for the playoffs."

Since losing nine of 12 to open the season while Angel McCoughtry and Sancho Lyttle both missed time, the Dream have gone 15-5 and won five of the last six.

"We just had to stay patient," said McCoughtry, who ranks second in the league with 20.8 points per game. "It was hard to get our rhythm with the injuries. ... We have our chemistry back.

"It's been a struggle. But we figure it would be more sweet if we win a championship because of our struggle. That would be the perfect (way) to winning it."

Atlanta, which dropped both road meetings in the series this season, has won a season-best five straight at home, including 94-88 in overtime against Connecticut on Aug. 19.

The Dream have taken four of seven from the Sun dating to last year while McCoughtry has averaged 27.9 points and scored at least 32 on three occasions.

Connecticut hosts the Liberty in its season finale Sunday, hours before Atlanta concludes its schedule at Indiana.

McCoughtry scores 35, Dream beat Sun 85-74

Posted Sep 06 2011 10:45PM

ATLANTA (AP) Angel McCoughtry scored 35 points and the Atlanta Dream moved into third place in the Eastern Conference with an 85-74 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.

``She was superb,'' Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors said. ``When the stakes are high, she's at her best. She's played well against Connecticut. She's shot the ball very well every time we've played them. She's just really a great player.''

The loss dropped the Sun (20-13) a game behind first-place Indiana in the Eastern Conference. The Dream (19-14) is one game behind the Sun and half a game ahead of fourth-place New York.

Tina Charles had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Connecticut for her 22nd double-double of the season, matching the WNBA record she set last year. Renee Montgomery scored 16 for the Sun, which fell to 6-11 on the road.

``Angel McCoughtry just broke our whole team down,'' Charles said. ``She's a great player and she made some tough shots. But some of her shots, like the layups, we should have been able to hold her off.''

Connecticut cut a 13-point lead to three with just over four minutes left, but McCoughtry had eight points in an 12-2 run as the Dream quickly regained control. Sancho Lyttle had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta.

``I felt good,'' McCoughtry said. ``I felt more relaxed than I have in a long time. You always want to be at your best against the best teams and Connecticut is a challenge. We'll likely meet them again in the playoffs and I'm looking forward to it.''

McCoughtry came into the game averaging 28 points per game against Connecticut and had 36 points - one off her career high - in the teams' first meeting his season

The Sun finishes the regular season at home on Sunday against New York while Atlanta plays at Chicago.

The Dream used a nine-point run early in the third quarter to go up 57-45 and led by 14 points before settling for a 66-55 lead going into the final quarter.

McCoughtry, who opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, had 15 points at halftime as the Dream took a 48-42 lead. Charles had 11 points and six rebounds for the Sun in the first half.

``We just weren't very good,'' Sun coach Mike Thibault said. ``Our defense was bad in the first half and our offense was bad in the second half. It was not a top-flight performance.''

• Sun: --
• Dream: --

• Sun: --
• Dream: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #4 Sue Blauch, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #11 Lauren Holtkamp
• Attendance: 6558
• Duration: 1:49