Fever-Dream Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Sep 04 2012 12:47PM

A lot has changed for the Atlanta Dream since they faced the Indiana Fever less than three weeks ago, particularly for star Angel McCoughtry.

On the other hand, little is different for the streaking Indiana Fever since they last played the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions.

The Fever look to win their sixth straight Wednesday night when they visit McCoughtry and the Dream.

Indiana (17-8) improved to 3-1 against Atlanta (14-13) this year with an 86-72 home victory Aug. 18. McCoughtry had 22 points, but the Dream had no answer for Katie Douglas, who scored a season-high 29, and Tamika Catchings added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Fever.

That defeat preceded a drama-filled two weeks for Atlanta.

After facing the Fever, McCoughtry did not play the next two games due to personal reasons. Soon after, the Dream fired coach Marynell Meadors, and her replacement, Fred Williams, handed down an indefinite suspension of McCoughtry for breaking unspecified rules.

That ban ended up lasting two games, then McCoughtry returned Sunday to score 24 points - 18 in the fourth quarter - in an 87-80 win over conference-leading Connecticut.

"I was so excited," said McCoughtry, who had to sign and comply with a written list of requirements by Williams before being reinstated. "It felt so good to be back on the floor. I'll never take basketball for granted again."

With things having calmed down, the Dream hope they can continue moving forward as they close in on a playoff berth. Atlanta, which now looks to match its season high with a third straight win, is four games back of second-place Indiana.

To close the gap, however, McCoughtry needs some help. The reigning MVP has averaged 22.8 points in the season series with the Fever, but Atlanta has shot 39.3 percent in the four meetings.

Defense also has keyed Indiana's recent run, limiting its last five opponents to an average of 66.6 points. The Fever are looking to win six straight for the first time since a seven-game run last season.

They clinched their eighth straight playoff berth Saturday with an 81-64 victory over Chicago. Briann January scored 19 points while Catchings and Douglas each added 17.

Indiana missed 10 of its first 11 shots but would go on an 18-3 run en route to a 45-31 lead at halftime. The Fever forced 21 turnovers.

"We started the game very sluggish," coach Lin Dunn said. "The good news is we weathered their hot shooting in the first quarter and were able to chip away and really get control of the game in the second quarter."

For the season, the Fever rank among the WNBA's best defensive teams, holding opponents to 73.7 points per game.

Harding, Hayes lead Dream to 71-64 win over Fever

Posted Sep 05 2012 10:40PM

ATLANTA (AP) Lindsey Harding scored 20 points and Angel McCoughtry came off the bench to add 15, leading the Atlanta Dream to a 71-64 win over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night.

Tiffany Hayes added 12 points and Sancho Lyttle 10 for Atlanta, which has won three straight under new coach Fred Williams as it tries to keep pace in the Eastern Conference. The third-place Dream are three games behind the Fever in the East and five back of Connecticut.

McCoughtry was playing her second game since a two-game suspension for violating an unspecified team rule. She scored 18 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter Sunday in an 87-870 win over the Sun.

``When there is adversity, the best thing is to come together,'' said Harding, who was 7 for 15 from the field. ``We're coming together as a team to compete for a championship.''

The Dream, the two-time defending conference champions, struggled for much of the season before beating the Sun and rallying past Indiana.

Atlanta (15-13) trailed 52-48 after three quarters, but Harding scored 12 points in the final period and Hayes added six to help the Dream snap Indiana's win streak at four.

Katie Douglas hit five 3-pointers and scored 23 points for Indiana (17-9). Tamika Catchings added 13 points and nine rebounds. In the previous meeting between these two teams on Aug. 18, Douglas scored a season-high 29 points and went 7 for 9 from long range in an 86-72 win for the Fever.

``I was having nightmares of the last game up there,'' said Williams, who is 3-1 as Atlanta's head coach. ``We're changing everything; we're settling in.''

The Fever controlled much of the first half and built their biggest lead when Douglas made a pair of free throws with 2:08 left in the second quarter to make it 32-21.

Atlanta closed the half with an 8-0 run, however, keyed by two turnovers and a blocked shot by Dream center Erika de Souza to close to 32-29 at intermission.

The Dream kept the momentum early in the second half, and de Souza's putback gave the home team a 35-34 lead with 6:50 left in the third quarter.

Douglas hit back-to-back 3s to give the Fever a 45-42 lead and by the end of the third quarter Indiana led 52-48. But Douglas missed her final four 3-point tries.

The Dream made just 1 of 16 from 3-point range in the game, but was helped by a 7-for-10 showing at the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

``We expected Atlanta to come out and play at a high level since they are dealing with adversity, and fighting for their playoff lives,'' said Indiana coach Lin Dunn. ``I thought Atlanta was real aggressive and real physical, and we handled it poorly.''

• Fever: --
• Dream: --

• Fever: --
• Dream: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #38 Lamont Simpson, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #24 Tony Dawkins
• Attendance: 4112
• Duration: 1:54