The Atlanta Dream are headed back to the post season after a 73-52 win over Tulsa eliminates the Chicago Sky from playoff contention. Tulsa jumped out to an early 11-2 lead after hitting five of its first seven shots but Atlanta's defense tightened and the Shock finished the game shooting only 28 percent.
Turnovers proved to be the difference maker for the Shock who committed 26 in the game and helped ignite the Atlanta fast break. The Dream racked up 15 steals in the game and thus held a big lead in fast break points.
Angel McCoughtry led all scorers with 19 points going 7 for 15 from the field. Lindsey Harding finished with a double double 13 points and 10 assists. Armintie Price also finished with 13 points and Sancho Lyttle tossed in 10 of her own.
Tiffany Jackson led the Shock with 15 points and 11 rebounds but had a remarkable 10 turnovers for a less than stellar triple double. Amber Holt netted 14 points for Tulsa.
Atlanta received a scare late in the game when Sancho Lyttle went to the ground with an apparent back injury suffered with just over two minutes to go in the game. Lyttle left the game but remained at the bench area so perhaps it isn't serious. Erika De Souza returned from an ankle injury to play 19 minutes and finished with 19 points and six rebounds.
The victory for the moment pulls the Dream to within a half game of the New York Liberty for third place in the Eastern Conference depending on the outcome of their match up with the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
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