Silver Stars-Dream Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Jun 07 2012 4:26PM

If there's some solace for the struggling Atlanta Dream, it might come from last season's meandering journey to a second straight WNBA finals.

The Dream's attempt to overcome their slow start this year, however, is taking place with starter Erika de Souza out of the lineup.

With de Souza preparing for the Olympics, Atlanta will seek to avoid dropping three straight in the regular season for the first time in a year Friday night against the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars.

The Dream (2-4) shot a season-low 37.8 percent and missed 14 of 19 attempts in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's 79-74 loss to New York.

Angel McCoughtry had a team-best 21 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for Atlanta, which allowed a tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation before falling 94-92 in overtime to Chicago on Saturday.

A not-so-ideal start is nothing new for Atlanta. The Dream dropped nine of their first 12 in 2011 but followed by winning 21 of 27 - including the first two rounds of the postseason - before getting swept in three games by Minnesota in the finals.

"We understand that last year we didn't start too well, but we're losing games ... that we can win," guard Lindsey Harding told the league's official website. "So that is hope and that is positive that we're just a few possessions off."

The Dream will have to get on track with de Souza likely out until after the Olympic break in mid-August. The post player, who averaged 11.8 points and a team-best 7.5 rebounds in 2011, is currently with the Brazilian national team.

"It's tough," McCoughtry said. "She definitely clogged up the paint for us. She makes it so much easier for me personally because they can't double so much or help so much, but we'll have her back sooner than later."

The Dream's next opponent is also trying to overcome a slow start, but the Silver Stars (2-3) nearly pulled off a stunning rally over unbeaten Minnesota on Sunday. San Antonio trailed by 26 points in the third quarter but got within two in the final seconds before time ran out.

"It's amazing what you start to do if you start doing things hard and together," coach Dan Hughes said.

Danielle Adams, who had a team-best 21 points off the bench Sunday, scored a career-high 32 during an 86-74 home win over Atlanta on June 11. That loss dropped the Dream to 0-3 in 2011 and marks their previous three-game skid during the regular season.

Adams also scored 19 points in Atlanta on June 26, and Jia Perkins had a game-high 25 in a 92-86 victory.

Before last year, the Dream had swept the previous two season series from the Silver Stars.

McCoughtry, Harding lead Dream past San Antonio

By GEORGE HENRY
Posted Jun 08 2012 11:19PM

ATLANTA (AP) After her team struggled in the final minutes of two narrow losses, Lindsey Harding liked how the Atlanta Dream didn't give another game away.

``Even at the end of the game, our strongest suit is to run and get them on their heels,'' she said. ``We did that in the second half, which led to us being successful.''

Angel McCoughtry scored 16 points, Harding added 14 and the Atlanta Dream beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 60-57 on Friday night.

Sophia Young finished with 21 points and was the only player to score in double figures for the Silver Stars, who have lost two straight and four of five.

Atlanta overcame 23 turnovers, matching a season high, to snap a two-game skid.

Time expired in the final seconds on San Antonio guard Becky Hammon, who dribbled past Dream forward Sancho Lyttle inside the 3-point line and threw a bad pass to Shenise Johnson.

``Offensively, we were not clicking on all cylinders that we needed to,'' Hammon said. ``Hopefully we can go back and learn from this. We have another one tomorrow, so we've got to put this behind us.''

Silver Stars coach San Antonio coach Dan Hughes was ejected early in the second quarter in a disagreement over a foul that was called on Tully Bevilaqua.

Hughes yelled several times from close range at official Denise Brooks, who kicked him out of the game after Hughes left the sideline and approached her angrily at halfcourt.

``I didn't swear at the official,'' Hughes said. ``I didn't do anything that I'm ashamed of.''

Assistant coaches Steve Shuman and Vickie Johnson shared bench responsibilities for the rest of the game.

Hammon, who scored just seven points for the second straight game, gave San Antonio its biggest lead at five when her fast-break 3-pointer made it 45-40 in the final minute of the third.

Hughes didn't think his absence affected his players, even in the fourth quarter.

``No, we're veteran enough,'' he said. ``Atlanta got it done late. We didn't get it done. It had nothing to do with me not being there. Atlanta made a few more plays than we did.''

Yelena Leuchanka's layup with 2:12 remaining put the Dream up 59-53 to match Atlanta's biggest lead at six.

Atlanta went 0 for 7 on 3-point attempts. The Silver Stars went 4 for 17.

As poorly as her team shot from the perimeter, Dream coach Marynell Meadors was pleased that her team put behind those difficulties and focused harder on stopping San Antonio.

``In the last three of four minutes of the game, I thought we played excellent defense,'' Meadors said. ``We went after loose balls, got some key rebounds, got blocked shots. You look at those and wonder which one of them was the game changer. I don't know which one it was, but they all pulled together to help us win.''

The Silver Stars scored their last points on Shameka Christon's 18-foot jump shot near the right baseline with 10.9 seconds remaining.

McCoughtry, who missed an 18-footer with at the 27-second mark, hit one of two free throws to end the scoring with 8.5 left.

``Most teams in the final minutes want to take time to set up plays, but what gave us a boost was just getting the rebounds and running,'' Harding said. ``We just ran, which allowed us to get up six points. We just played clock management and made them play catch-up.''

• Silver Stars: --
• Dream: --

• Silver Stars: Hughes, Hughes
• Dream: --

• Lead Changes: 10
• Times Tied: 12

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #9 Denise Brooks, #31 Amy Bonner, #62 Jeff Wooten
• Attendance: 4501
• Duration: 1:56