Sun-Dream Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jun 16 2012 5:31PM

Angel McCoughtry didn't miss a beat despite coming off the bench during the Atlanta Dream's last game.

While it's unknown if McCoughtry will return to the starting lineup Sunday afternoon, the Dream will surely need another big game from their All-Star guard against the high-scoring Connecticut Sun.

Second in the league with 22.7 points per game, McCoughtry was held out of the starting lineup for the first time this season Friday for apparently breaking an unspecified team rule. While her situation created a stir, McCoughtry didn't seem to be bothered and finished with 31 points on 11 of 18 shooting during a 92-59 rout of Los Angeles.

"I didn't violate a team rule. I don't violate team rules ... I'm a good person. I'm a great leader and I'm going to do everything I can for this team," said McCoughtry, who expects to start this game.

Atlanta (4-5) outscored the Sparks 28-12 in the first quarter and limited them to just 28.6 percent shooting.

"When we came out (Friday), we just jelled really well," McCoughtry added. "Before, it was kind of early. It's a new team. We've been trying to find our chemistry, and tonight kind of broke the ice."

Averaging a league-high 86.4 points, Connecticut (7-2) is coming off an impressive effort of its own, blowing out New York 97-55 on Friday for its most lopsided victory in franchise history.

With 20 points, Tina Charles was one of six players to score in double figures for the Sun, who two nights earlier let a late lead slip away in an 87-81 loss to Los Angeles

"If you look at our record and see our two losses, we think we could've been undefeated," forward Kalana Greene said. "It kind of ticks us off. ... The beauty of this part of the season is you play games almost every day. You have a short-term memory and you get to kind of let off your energy and frustration on the next team."

Connecticut, which suffered a two-game sweep at the hands of Atlanta during last season's conference semifinals, exacted a bit of revenge last Sunday with a 92-73 win over the Dream. Charles posted 22 points and 11 rebounds to become the fastest player in league history to record 50 career double-doubles, doing so in just 75 games.

The Sun shot 61.7 percent (37 of 60) from the floor - the second-best effort in franchise history - in that game and were able to slow down McCoughtry, who scored 23 points but made just 7 of 24 shots.

Atlanta has taken seven straight from Connecticut on its own floor, including the postseason. The Sun are 2-0 on the road and have won all six matchups versus Eastern Conference foes.

Charles leads Sun to 75-73 win over Atlanta

By GEORGE HENRY
Posted Jun 17 2012 7:04PM

ATLANTA (AP) With Angel McCoughtry unable to play for Atlanta, Tina Charles knew the Connecticut Sun had a great chance to stay unbeaten in the Eastern Conference.

It wasn't easy.

Charles scored 23 points, pulled down a season-high 22 rebounds and hit a pair of free throws with 3.1 seconds left to give the Sun their first lead of the game in a 75-73 victory Sunday over the Dream.

``We definitely put ourselves in a hole,'' she said. ``I think the key is just to stay poised and together out there. We just have to know that we can always win.''

Renee Montgomery finished with 19 points and Kara Lawson added 11 for Connecticut, which has won five of six. The Sun (8-2) improved to 7-0 in the Eastern Conference.

Armintie Price scored a season-high 20 points and Sancho Lyttle had 15 for the Dream (4-6). Lyttle missed a baseline runner that didn't touch the rim as time expired.

McCoughtry, the WNBA's leading scorer, missed the game because of a sprained left knee.

``The obvious difference is they didn't have Angel in the lineup, and you have to credit them for really outplaying us for the better part of the game,'' Lawson said. ``They played with great energy and forced us into kind of a different mode offensively.''

Charles, who has a franchise-record 22 straight games of scoring in double digits, grabbed a rebound with 3.1 seconds remaining after Montgomery missed a 17-footer. After Price fouled her, Charles made both free throws for Connecticut's 75-73 lead.

The Sun were coming off a 97-55 win Friday over New York that included a 34-halftime lead, the largest in WNBA history. The 42-point margin of victory was a team record.

But a season-high 25 turnovers, including eight by Charles, resulted in 31 points for Atlanta and kept Connecticut struggling offensively until the game's final seconds.

``I told my players we're going to get arrested on the way to the airport for stealing,'' Sun coach Mike Thibault said. ``For a long stretch today, we didn't play very well. We're leading the league in fewest turnovers, and we had more in one game than in our first three games combined.''

Atlanta failed to make a field goal after Aneika Henry scored underneath to give the Dream a 71-69 lead with 4:34 remaining. Lindsey Harding, who was just 4 of 12 from the field, hit a pair of free throws to make it 73-69 for Atlanta's final points with 2:11 to go.

``We need to stay on the attack and keep the high energy we have,'' Price said. ``Everyone on the bench stepped up.''

Asjha Jones hit a layup and a short hook shot on two straight possessions to tie the score 73-73 with 1:23 left and put more pressure on Atlanta.

``When we get on the offensive end, we just have to knock shots down,'' Dream coach Marynell Meadors said. ``We did our free throws really well today, but we missed way too many layups.''

Tiffany Hayes started in McCoughtry's place and scored 11 points. Meadors believes McCoughtry, who scored 31 points in a blowout win Friday over Los Angeles, could return Tuesday when Atlanta hosts New York.

``If we had to play her today, we could have, but we just thought it would be best if we sat her,'' Meadors said. ``She just needs rest. She will be fine in the next couple of days.''

Charles' dominance on the boards was nothing usual for the league's second-leading rebounder. She had 13 in the second half. Connecticut had out-rebounded the Dream by the same number at the end of the game.

``I was going after the ball,'' she said. ``We needed to get boards in order to get transitions. That was one big thing for us, so I was just doing what I had to do down there.''

• Sun: --
• Dream: McCoughtry

• Sun: --
• Dream: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #55 Eric Brewton, #44 Felicia Grinter, #21 Byron Jarrett
• Attendance: 4323
• Duration: 1:51