Connecticut Sun close the regular season on winning note with 92-72 victory over Atlanta Dream – WNBA Recap
Connecticut Sun finished their regular season with a convincing 92-72 victory over the Atlanta Dream here at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday night. Connecticut opened the game hot from the field, taking an 18-8 lead at the close
of the first period. They held on to that lead throughout the game as Atlanta struggled to get the momentum going.
Kara Lawson scored a game high 21 points and 8 rebounds, breaking the franchise record for most three pointers in a season along the way. Lawson was 3 of 6 from the distance for the night, which helped her tally 74 three pointers
overall in the season and break Katie Douglas’ mark of 73 which was set in 2006.
Tina Charles added 17 points and 9 rebounds for the night, finishing the season with a WNBA best 345 rebounds. Kalana Greene added 12 points. Lindsey Harding scored 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists for Atlanta, where as Sancho
Lyttle and Angel McCoughtry both added 12 points for the night.
“I didn't know that I was in the game (to get the record. I was kind of looking over like, `All right. Sub. At some point.' I didn't realize that was the reason I was in there. I would've probably shot one sooner,” said Lawson
after the game.
Atlanta started the game going 0 of 8 from the field, and allowed Connecticut to run away to a 14-4 lead early on. The worries continued for Atlanta throughout the period as they were able to score only 8 points in the first period
as Connecticut led 18-8 at the close of the quarter.
A layup by Charles in the second period gave Connecticut a 26-12 lead, as Atlanta struggled to get their offence going. Seven straight points by the Dream had the lead down to 19-26, but Connecticut still kept control of the game
and held a comfortable 36-24 lead at half time.
A three point play by Charles to open the third period extended Connecticut’s lead to 39-24, their largest of the night till that point. An 8-2 run by Atlanta near the end of the third period cut the lead down to 60-49, but Connecticut
still had a 62-50 lead going into the final period.
Connecticut then outscored Atlanta 30-22 in the final period, as they exploded on the offensive end and Atlanta just did not have the firepower to retaliate or stay in the game. Connecticut won 92-72 in the end.
"I wanted to give everybody some minutes. The first quarter, we came out a little flat with some shots that didn't go down for us. It kind of set the tone, but we hung in there all the way into the middle of the fourth quarter,”
said Dream coach Fred Williams after the game.
Connecticut shot 50.7 percent from the field and were an impressive 4 of 9 from the distance for the night. Atlanta in return were only 40.8 percent from the field and 1 of 14 from the three point line.
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