SB Nation Atlanta - Storm Vs. Dream: Atlanta Knocks Off Defending WNBA Champs 70-53https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2011-08-07T17:45:30-04:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21140492011-08-07T17:45:30-04:002011-08-07T17:45:30-04:00Storm Vs. Dream Final Score: Atlanta Gets Defensive With 70-53 Win Over Seattle
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The Atlanta Dream captured a much needed 70-53 win over the visiting Seattle Storm Sunday at Philips Arena. With Sancho Lyttle and Angel McCoughtry back in the starting lineup, the Dream turned in one of their best defensive performances of the season limiting the Storm to 38 percent shooting and forcing 29 turnovers. </p>
<p>Angel McCoughtry scored a game-high 17 points on 7 of 20 shooting. Erika de Souza contributed 13 points and seven rebounds while Coco Miller chipped in 10 points off the bench. Sancho Lyttle's made her return to the starting lineup and finished with six points, seven rebounds, and two steals. </p>
<p>After the game, coach Meadors singled out Lyttle as being an excellent help defender and that was apparent throughout the game as the Dream seemed to swarm to the ball and would not allow anything easy for Seattle. Swin Cash scored a team high 16 points for the Storm. Katie Smith added 11 points and Camille Little tossed in nine. All-Star point guard Sue Bird finished with a rough night of two points, three assists, and six turnovers. </p>
<p>If there was a negative for the Dream it comes in the form of yet another injury. Armintie Price left the game with under a minute to go in the half with an apparent ankle injury. She later returned to the Dream bench on crutches and had X-rays at halftime. Price has been a spark plug of sorts for the Dream since being inserted into the starting lineup. Price finished with eight points, four assists, and a team high three steals in just 15 minutes of action. Her status would appear to be in doubt for the Dream's next game on Tuesday in Washington. </p>
<p>This win was a textbook win for Atlanta as they dominated nearly every facet of the game. The Dream grabbed a 32-26 rebounding advantage over the Storm and limited them to just two offensive rebounds on the night. That led to a 20-2 advantage in second chance points and a huge 40-22 advantage in points in the paint. </p>
<p><i>For more on the Dream, the Storm, and the WNBA be sure and check out <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com">Swish Appeal</a>. </i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2350258/storm-vs-dream-final-score-atlanta-gets-defensive-with-70-53-win-overKris Willis2011-08-07T16:05:09-04:002011-08-07T16:05:09-04:00Storm Vs. Dream Score: Angel McCoughtry Helps Atlanta To 34-22 Halftime Lead Over Seattle
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubtDnr9CNr48rmmnIJm0Y9_2y-Q=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828099/large_atlanta.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The Atlanta Dream have roared out to a 34-22 halftime lead over the visiting Seattle Storm behind nine points from Angel McCoughtry and a resurgent Atlanta defense. The Dream forced Seattle into 16 first half turnovers while also holding them to 33 percent shooting. It was one of Atlanta's best defensive performances of the season. It also isn't a coincidence that the performance coincided with Sancho Lyttle's return to the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Atlanta used a balanced attack offensively with McCoughtry leading the way with nine and Armintie Price netting eight. However, it isn't all good news for the Dream as Price had to be helped off the court late in the half with an apparent ankle injury. Her status for the second half of the game is unknown at this time. </p>
<p>Seattle was led in the first half by Camille Little's seven points. Katie Smith connected on a couple of three-point shots for six points and Swin Cash has five. Sue Bird was held to just two points on 1 of 3 shooting. </p>
<p><i>For more on the Dream and the Storm be sure and check out <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com">Swish Appeal</a>. </i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2350048/storm-vs-dream-score-angel-mccoughtry-helps-atlanta-to-34-22-halftimeKris Willis2011-08-07T10:23:47-04:002011-08-07T10:23:47-04:00Storm Vs. Dream: Atlanta Hosts Seattle In WNBA Finals Rematch
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sUKHksnIUmtx5PgefRzCai3i9dU=/0x191:476x508/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/940118/GYI0061051128.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Atlanta Dream will try and snap a two game losing streak when they host the Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm in a rematch of last season's WNBA Finals. Tip off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Philips Arena and can be seen on SportSouth.</p> <p>Neither the Atlanta Dream or the Seattle Storm are exactly where a lot of prognosticators thought they would be at this point in the season. After last season's match up in the WNBA Finals, both teams seemed poised to be in position to adequately defend their respective conference crowns. The reality has been that both teams were hit with injuries and although Seattle is weathering the storm without the reigning MVP Lauren Jackson, Atlanta is having to fight for their playoff lives. </p>
<p>Seattle's 12-8 record doesn't look very impressive until you consider that Lauren Jackson has played in only five games and was far from her MVP self in those games. The Storm behind point guard Sue Bird and Swin Cash, have won three games in a row and climbed into a tie for second place in the Western Conference with San Antonio. Both remain 3.5 games behind first place Minnesota but you have to think that the Storm would be really happy to nail down the second seed knowing that they are going to get Jackson back sooner rather than later. </p>
<p>Atlanta has dropped two straight games after a five game winning streak that got them back into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. They begin play today with an 8-11 record and just percentage points behind the Chicago Sky for the fourth and final playoff spot. Atlanta doesn't have a favorable schedule the rest of the way with nine of their remaining 15 games on the road including a trip to Seattle and Phoenix next week. The Dream also have two games remaining with the Eastern Conference leading Indiana Fever. </p>
<p>Angel McCoughtry has continued her torrid month even in the last two games which she coincidentally didn't start. McCoughtry scored a game high 24 points in 26 minutes of action. When asked about the reasoning behind McCoughtry not starting, Atlanta Dream coach Marynell Meadors replied that the move was simply a "coaching decision". </p>
<p>Whatever the reason, Atlanta has seemingly shuffled players in and out of the lineup the entire season and if they are going to get on another winning streak they are going to have to begin to nail down a solid rotation soon. Forward Sancho Lyttle has returned to action from a back injury and Armintie Price has supplanted Iziane Castro Marques in the starting lineup. The latest player lost to the injury bug is back up point guard Shalee Lehning who was lost for the season with a torn ACL. That will force Meadors to mix and match behind starter Lindsey Harding with Coco Miller likely drawing most of the playing time as the back up point guard. </p>
<p><i>For more on the Storm and the Dream, be sure and check out <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Seattle</a> and <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com">Swish Appeal</a>. </i></p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/8/7/2349616/storm-vs-dream-wnba-finals-rematchKris Willis