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With Tuesday's 84-79 victory over the L.A. Sparks, Atlanta evened its record at 12-12 on the season after starting the year 3-9. The victory also gave the Dream a 3-1 record on its recent four game road trip. Atlanta will look to continue its rise in the Eastern Conference standings tonight in a match up with the 16-9 Connecticut Sun.
Atlanta lost the previous meeting between the two teams falling 99-92 in Connecticut. Angel McCoughtry scored 36 points in that game. Connecticut was led by Renee Montgomery's 19 points and got a double double from Tina Charles. Atlanta shot 56 percent in the previous meeting but 20 turnovers and an inability to defend the three point line ultimately cost the Dream a victory.
As has been the case most of the season, Atlanta goes as their defense goes. The Dream haven't had many problems scoring the basketball especially since McCoughtry found herself after some early season struggles. The key is getting stops and turnovers at the defensive end which enables Atlanta to use their quickness on the offensive end. While their defensive numbers are improving, Atlanta is still the fourth worst team in the league in terms of points allowed at 80.87 per game.
Atlanta has won two in a row and nine of its last 12 and have pulled to within two games of the New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference standings. The Sun coincidentally dropped a 84-81 decision to the Liberty on Thursday.
Following tonight's game, the Dream head back out on the road for three more road games as the WNBA season begins to wind its way down.
For more on the Atlanta Dream and the WNBA, be sure and check out Swish Appeal.