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Dream continue hot streak with win over Monarchs

Aug 26, 2009 - 3:00 AM ATLANTA(AP) -- Iziane Castro Marques scored 30 points and Angel McCoughtry added 20 to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Sacramento Monarchs 103-83 on Tuesday night for their eighth victory in the past 10 games.

Sancho Lyttle added 13 points and Erika de Souza 12 for Atlanta, which improved to 15-12 and reclaimed sole possession of second place in the WNBA's Eastern Conference. Shalee Lehning had 10 assists as the Dream shot 55.6 percent.

"That is the best second-year expansion team in the history of the league," Sacramento coach John Whisenant said.

It was the second time in the two-year franchise history that Atlanta had reached 100 points.

"We got in a good flow and ran as much as we could," Castro Marques said. "We are having so much fun. This team is just getting better and better."

Rebkkah Brunson scored 15 points for Sacramento (9-19), which had won four of its past five games. Nicole Powell and DeMaya Walker added 13 each for the Monarchs and Ticha Penicheiro added 11 assists.

Atlanta played without Chamique Holdsclaw, who missed her second straight game because of a sore right knee. She also played less than a quarter in the game before that.

"Hopefully we'll have her back (for the road trip)," Dream coach Marynell Meadors said.

Atlanta hit 10 of its first 13 shots in jumping to a 21-6 lead and was up 27-17 after the end of the first quarter as Castro Marques and McCoughtry each had nine points.

"Izi was just so good tonight," Meadors said of Castro Marques. "Not only did she play the offensive end very effectively and efficiently, but she guarded Nicole Powell and kept her under her average."

The Dream led by eight at the half before McCoughtry took over in the third quarter, scoring 11 points as Atlanta pushed its lead back up to 74-59. Castro Marques had eight points during the quarter.

"We reverted back to where we were," said Whisenant, who has stressed defense since taking over as Monarchs coach. "We can't play like that. We scored enough points. We just didn't slow them down at all."

The victory came in the finale of a season-high six-game home stand for the Dream, who play at Detroit on Thursday. Six of Atlanta's final seven games are on the road.