SB Nation Atlanta - Dream Vs. Mercury: Angel McCoughtry's 25 Points Not Enough, Atlanta Falls 109-95https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2011-08-12T07:32:03-04:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21230282011-08-12T07:32:03-04:002011-08-12T07:32:03-04:00Dream Vs. Mercury Final Score: Atlanta Falls To Phoenix 109-95
<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 couldn't find enough defensive stops in Phoenix as they dropped the first game of their Western road trip by a score of 109-95. The Dream put up some good offensive numbers themselves but couldn't overcome a 51 percent shooting night from the Mercury who also made a ridiculous 27 of 28 attempts from the free throw line. </p>
<p>Atlanta fell behind 30-20 at the end of the first quarter and trailed 50-29 mid way through the second before a 17-5 Atlanta run pulled the Dream to within 59-48 at the break. However, Atlanta couldn't find enough defensive stops in the second half to further close the gap. </p>
<p>Angel McCoughtry finished with 25 points, five rebounds, and three assists going 6 for 16 from the field and 12 of 15 from the charity stripe. Erika de Souza finished with 19 points and seven rebounds while Castro Marques and Coco Miller netted 11 and 12 points respectively. Atlanta's Lindsey Harding came off the bench for the first time this season finishing with seven points and three assists in 23 minutes of action. </p>
<p>DeWanna Bonner led the Mercury with 25 points and 13 rebounds off the bench. Candice Dupree finished with 22 points and Diana Taurasi had 21 points and five assists. Penny Taylor netted 19 points and a game high six assists for Phoenix who ran a clinic offensively. </p>
<p>The loss drops Atlanta to 10-12 on the season and just a half game ahead of Chicago for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Dream's western swing continues on Saturday with a visit to Seattle to take on the Storm. </p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2011/8/12/2358991/dream-vs-mercury-final-score-atlanta-falls-to-phoenix-109-95Kris Willis2011-08-11T12:20:15-04:002011-08-11T12:20:15-04:00Dream Vs. Mercury: Atlanta Begins Western Road Trip In Phoenix
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ar4YuFOC6Bp4Ck12xqVl1ROb3wk=/0x1:1000x668/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/3207019/117899330.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Angel McCoughtry and the Atlanta Dream look for the third consecutive victory tonight when they visit Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury. Tip off is scheduled for 10 p.m. Eastern Time and can be seen online with WNBA Live Access. </p> <p>Tuesday night's match up between the Atlanta Dream and the Phoenix Mercury will pit the top two scorers in the WNBA against each other. Entering the game Diana Taurasi leads the WNBA with a 20.9 ponts per game average while Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry is close behind averaging 19.9. Its also a match up of two teams that are fighting for playoff seeding in their respective conferences. Atlanta is currently in the fourth and final playoff spot in the East with a 10-11 record one full game ahead of the Chicago Sky and 2.5 games behind third place New York. Phoenix is tied for second with San Antonio in the west and just a half game ahead of Seattle. </p>
<p>Phoenix won the earlier meeting between the two teams 92-83 at Philips Arena back in June. Atlanta was just 2-5 before that meeting and has played much better of late. The Dream defeated the Seattle Storm 70-53 on Sunday and avoided the let down loss in Washington on Tuesday defeating the Mystics 72-70. They could get back to the .500 mark on the season with a victory tonight.</p>
<p>As has been the case the entire season, Atlanta is still dealing with injuries as guard Shalee Lehning is out for the season with a torn ACL and guard/forward Armintie Price has been slowed by an ankle injury. Price was injured during the first half of the victory over Seattle and did not return to the game. She didn't start and played sparingly against Washington finishing with two points and two assists. </p>
<p>Atlanta moves into a difficult position of their schedule with eight of their last 13 games on the road. Tuesday's match up against Phoenix is the second game of a road trip that will take the Dream through Seattle and Los Angeles before returning home to face Connecticut. </p>
<p>Tip off for tonight's game is scheduled for 10 p.m. Eastern Time and can be seen online with WNBA Live Access. </p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/8/11/2357413/dream-vs-mercury-atlanta-begins-western-road-trip-in-phoenixKris Willis