Atlanta dominated the paint and did not remove a big lead slip this time in the 90-81 victory when he went to New York on Sunday afternoon.
Dream excluded 62-36 in New York in a paint, shot 52.9 percent from the floor and never back down after the first quarter. Five different dream players hit double figures, in which Bronha Jones scoring 21 and Alisha Gray scoring 20.
Breanna Stewart led Liberty with 21.
After starting 9–0, Liberty has lost five of their last seven matches to fall by 11–5 and the beginning Jonkel Jones (ankle injury) and Lioni Fibich (National Team Commitment) are dealing with the absence. Fiabich should return to action soon.
Atlanta (11-6) is now 1/2 game behind New York at the Eastern Conference.
Two weeks ago in the last meeting of two teams, Atlanta lost the second half of 17 points, as Liberty won 86–81.
Both teams traded the basket in the first five minutes before the Dream scored a drive for 10–2 and scored a score 16–9. Dream scored the last seven points of the first quarter, leading to 29–19.
New York scored just two points in the first 6:15 of the second quarter and Dream collected a theft and scoring with a shutori walker-kimbrow, Jordan Canada driving into two more baskets for two and converted to a le-up with Naz Hillman 5:34. Jones hit a Fedway after 30 seconds, and Atlanta led 20 points (41-21), which made the house crowd happy.
Atlanta shot 53.8 percent in the first half and the paint had 40 first points, either on aggressive rebounds or slash in basket by Howard or Gray.
The Dream Center Brittany Grinner was called for a technical dishonesty with seven seconds, when a complaint was made to the referee after contact under the basket, Liberty got a slight speed just before the Haftime. New York created a free throw and Isabel Harrison added a back-door le-up with a second to make 47–34 47-34 in Haftime.
Atlanta entered 10 in the fourth quarter – its smallest lead since the start of the second quarter – but Sapna left for a stunning start with Canada, with three to start the quarter to start the quarters and then the three -point plays of an old school were added. Atlanta led 80-62 midway through the fourth.
New York has allowed 80 or more points out of six of its last seven matches.
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