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Dream-Sun Preview

Jun 27, 2009 - 4:14 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Atlanta (3-4) at Connecticut (3-3), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Dream needed 33 games to notch their fourth win in their inaugural season, but it's already clear things are going a bit better in their second year.

One night after they beat the defending WNBA champions, the Dream will try to exceed their win total from all of 2008 on Saturday night when they visit the Connecticut Sun.

Atlanta (4-4) started 0-17 and set a league record with 30 losses last year, but several newcomers have helped begin what looks like a dramatic turnaround. Chamique Holdsclaw, who has come out of retirement this season to play for the Dream, scored 28 points in Friday's 96-86 win over Detroit.

"It's about me getting into the flow and finding my shot," Holdsclaw said. "I felt better the more minutes I got and I was able to make some key shots. But most of all, our defense really stepped up."

Returning center Erika DeSouza had 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Shock, while Nikki Teasley added 11 assists. Teasley missed last season due to maternity leave.

"Nikki really set the tone," Dream coach Marynell Meadors said. "She came out from the beginning and had us going, directing everyone in the right direction and making the passes to set others up for easy scores."

The Dream have also received major contributions from rookie Angel McCoughtry and veteran Sancho Lyttle, another new face who was acquired in the dispersal draft from Houston.

Lyttle had 20 points and 15 rebounds in Atlanta's 67-62 win at Connecticut on June 14, the Dream's first victory over the Sun after losing all three meetings last year. Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said she was the difference in the game.

"She's been getting better and better," Meadors said of Lyttle that day. "This was a breakthrough game for her."

The Sun (3-3) shot 29.0 percent from the field against Atlanta, part of their ugly 1-3 start on the heels of a 21-13 campaign.

They've looked much better lately, however, earning back-to-back double-digit victories at home against Chicago and San Antonio. After cruising to a 91-61 win over the Sky last Friday, they beat the Silver Stars 71-58 on Sunday, led by 19 points from Asjha Jones.

Connecticut held San Antonio to 10 points in the fourth quarter and outrebounded the visitors 38-31.

"We stayed resilient and made some plays down the stretch," Thibault said.