Dream Defeats Wings In Overtime

 

“Tiffany Hayes #15 driving on Skylar Diggins #4.” Photo by Scott Cunningham

 

By Nia Sapp

Last night the Atlanta Dream defeated the Dallas Wings in a 95-90 overtime victory with the help of Angel McCoughtry’s triple-double. McCoughtry is the sixth player in WNBA history to record a triple-double in a single game. Atlanta ended the first half up 52-39, dominating the Wings from the 3-point line & inside the perimeter, but going into the second half Atlanta struggled to get a shot off, scoring just only 4 points in the 3rd quarter. The Dream could not get out of the low-scoring slump this allowed Dallas get their momentum going & cut down the lead to just 3 points at the end of the third quarter. During the fourth quarter, both teams struggled from the field to get the game into a competitive flow, but as the quarter unwinded the game was down to the wire. With 39.0 seconds left in the game Courtney Paris of the Wings got off a layup over Elizabeth Williams & was sent to the line to complete a 3-point play, this put the score at 79-77, allowing Dallas to take the lead. Going into the next possession Atlanta calls for a timeout to draw up a play to go through McCoughtry to get the shot off & tie the game, unfortunately the play was unsuccessful as Angel misses the 12-foot jumper. Paris grabs the rebound & throws an outlet pass to point guard, Odyssey Sims to proceed down to the other end. Sims was patient with the ball, running down the time on the clock until the shot clock is down to 5 seconds; she passes the ball to Karima Christmas to get the shot off, but her shot does not fall. Sancho Lyttle is able to grab Christmas’s missed 3-pointer & gives a strong outlet pass to Layshia Clarendon for the fast break. With 5 seconds left in the game, Clarendon runs with it to the other end to get a layup off but is fouled by Sims which allowed Layshia to go to the line & get 2 free throws, she made them both & tied the game 79-79 that eventually led to overtime. During overtime Atlanta picked up the slack & out-scored the Wings, Angel McCoughtry’s 7 points in overtime was also a key factor to the Dream getting the 95-90 win. Atlanta had 4 players in double-figures, Angel McCoughtry finishing with a triple-double 27 points, 10 rebounds, & 10 assists, Sancho Lyttle with 10 points & 14 rebounds, Elizabeth Williams with 10 points & 7 rebounds,  Tiffany Hayes with 27 points & 6 assists, & Layshia Clarendon with 12 points & 5 rebounds. Dallas also had 5 players in double-figures, Karima Christmas with 18 points & 15 rebounds, Glory Johnson with 16 points & 15 rebounds, Courtney Paris with 13 points & 8 rebounds, Skylar Diggins with 15 points & 3 rebounds, & Odyssey Sims with 11 points & 5 assists. Atlanta now 10-9 will take on the 5-13 Connecticut Sun on Sunday, July 10th at the Mohegan Sun Arena @1 pm EST on the WNBA League Pass.