Hoops on a Friday night! Mercurys Tina Charles doing work early, along with Diana Taurasi, opening the 1st quarter, coming out strong. The score comes to 14-10, Taurasi has the scoring edge to continue to lead her team through out the quarter. Going into the 2nd, they led 31-23 with 3:09 left before halftime. Atlanta was not about to allow the Mercurys to completely dominate this quarter. The Dreams shot 41% from the 3 point line with Rhyne Howard leading the charge to try and bring her team back in the game with a huge three with 1:15 left in the half. Howard finished the game with 25 points. Cheyenne Parker helped to contribute with the stroke from the ark as well, she scored 20 points for the night. However, Mercury rising continued to subdue the Dream.
Going into the 3rd, Dreams scrambled to make a huge run to take the lead when Dreams Nia Coffey drove in with a quick lay up and Atlanta lead 44-43. Mercury quickly answers back with a shot from Taurasi on the other end, and went on a streak of scoring three consecutive 3 point shots in a row! Diana Taurasi is at 23 points in the game. Phoenix takes the lead 46-44 with 5:42 left in the 3rd. Tina Charles continues to capitalize on the Mercurys’ lead with an answer at the other end of the court with huge baskets. The Dream continue to claw their way through out the 3rd. Aari McDonald leading the way, tried to give Atlanta some headway along with Kristy Wallace who nails an 18 footer to help the Dream shave that Mercury lead down at the end of the 3rd the score is now Phoenix 59-56.
Mercury Skylar Diggins comes out with a fast lay up in the 4th. She had a season low of only 7 points in the last meeting with the Dreams. She’s currently at 10 points in the game. Mercury’s main focus was getting their 2nd win in a row. The Dream go in a scoring slump to only score 3 points in the entire half. Atlanta’s Monique Billings, who was quiet in the 1st half, drives in full force to the basket to cut the Mercury’s lead to a single digit lead halfway in the 4th. The attempt the Dreams had to fight back was being dwindled as Phoenix Mercury rising interrupted the pursuit. Tina Charles ‘s momentum never let up, she has 18 points in the half. Phoenix has their biggest lead of the game at 14 point deficit. Skylar Diggins buries a jumper and has 15 points and the lead is 83-71 with 2:59 left in the game. Rhyne Howard didn’t just let the Dream die, she came in with two back to back three’s which brought Atlanta within 6 points 83-77. The Dream went on a 7-0 run. It was the Rhyne Howard / Diana Taurasi show as they were going blow for blow the remainder of the game. With 18 seconds left, score 89-86, Dream’s Coach Wright had to think of a master plan at the time out. Howard comes out with a three and can not complete it, but Parker lays it up, the score 90-88. It begin to be a little too late for the Dreams, time ran out and Phoenix Mercury hang on for the win 90-88. Atlanta Dreams next game will be Wednesday, June 15 as they travel to face the # 1 seed in the East – Connecticut Suns.
