2012 WNBA Playoffs: Atlanta's Finals streak snapped with 75-64 loss to Indiana
Atlanta's streak of three consecutive Finals appearances comes to an end with a 75-64 loss to the Indiana Fever in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
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Atlanta's streak of three consecutive Finals appearances comes to an end with a 75-64 loss to the Indiana Fever in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Atlanta Dream overcame a 10 point deficit in the first half with a run in the second quarter and enter halftime tied 39-39 with the Indiana Fever. Both the Dream and the Fever exchanged runs in the first quarter before Indiana pulled away late to take a 25-17 advantage. Atlanta answered back in the second whittling the lead down and outscoring Indiana 22-14 behind a strong finish from Angel McCoughtry.
McCoughtry leads the Dream with 14 first half points and hit a pair of big threes in the waining minutes of the half. Lindsey Harding and Erika de Souza have six points each while Armintie Price finished the half with five.
Katie Douglas shook off her Game 2 struggles scoring a game-high 16 points on 6-12 shooting. Eriana Larkins logged a double-double in the first half with 10 points and 10 rebounds while Tameka Catchings chipped in five points on 1-6 shooting.
Atlanta's transition defense was very shaky in the early going but they tightened the screws in the second half forcing the Fever into 12 first-half turnovers which helped to ignite the Dream's running game.
A poor third quarter by the Dream combined with some pinpoint shooting by the Fever helped send Atlanta to a 103-88 loss in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Angel McCoughtry and Sancho Lyttle scored 11 points each in the first half but the Atlanta Dream trail the Indiana Fever 47-45 at halftime. Atlanta is trying to eliminate the Fever and advance to the conference finals for the third consecutive year.
Indiana has managed to keep the game close despite poor shooting efforts from their two stars Tameka Catchings and Katie Douglas. Catchings missed her first seven shots from the field before nailing a three-pointer with just 1.8 left in the half to put the Fever up.
McCoughtry hit 4-7 shots in the first half and also has four rebounds to go along with four assists. Erika de Souza has just two points but pulled down seven rebounds in the first half to lead the team. After torching Indiana in Game 1, Lindsey Harding had a tough first half scoring four points on just 2-9 shooting.
Briann January made all five of her field goal attempts for the Fever and leads the team with 11 points. Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 11 off the bench and also pulled down four rebounds. Erin Phillips and Eriana Larkins finished with six each. Catchings has a game-high eight rebounds.
Lindsey Harding had 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals in the first half to help give the Atlanta Dream a 41-32 halftime lead against the Indiana Fever. The Dream and Fever are meeting in Game 1 of their WNBA Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Angel McCoughtry had 12 points and eight rebounds in the first half for Atlanta. Sancho Lyttle had six points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists. The Dream are looking to make a run to their third straight WNBA Finals.
Tamika Catchings led the Fever in the first half with eight points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Catchings was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year earlier on Friday, becoming the first player in league history to win the award five times. She received 19 first-place votes. McCoughtry was second on the list, receiving eight first-place votes.
Indiana took three of five regular-season meetings with Atlanta
The Atlanta Dream begin their quest for a third straight WNBA Finals appearance when they square off against the Indiana Fever in a best-of-three matchup.
