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Dream-Fever Preview

Jul 4, 2009 - 8:08 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Atlanta (5-6) at Indiana (7-2), 6:00 p.m. EDT

Even when the Indiana Fever have dominated defensively, coach Lin Dunn has wanted them to bear down even more - and avoid a late letdown like the one they had against the Atlanta Dream.

Boasting the WNBA's top record, the defensive-minded Fever look to extend a franchise-record seven-game winning streak and avenge their season-opening loss to the Dream as the teams meet Sunday.

Indiana (7-2) is coming off one of its best defensive efforts, beating Connecticut 67-53 on Thursday night.

Though the Fever held the Sky to 30 points and 34 percent shooting in the first half, Dunn urged her team to tighten up even more in the second. Indiana responded by holding Connecticut scoreless for nearly five minutes to open the third quarter.

"Defend, defend and defend, and then if you defend, you're going to have opportunities to score off your defense," Dunn said.

The Fever have allowed an average of 62.7 points after surrendering a combined 183 in losing their first two games, including a double-overtime matchup with the Dream (5-6) on June 6. Atlanta shot just 39 percent but won 87-86.

Indiana blew a six-point lead in the fourth quarter and also failed to hold on after scoring the first five points of the first OT. The Fever had their worst performance of the season the following day, allowing Minnesota to shoot 63 percent in a 96-74 loss.

Since then, however, the Fever have been playing like title contenders and Dunn doesn't seem to be losing her focus. She wasn't even aware that the win streak was the longest in team history.

"I don't keep up with records," she said. "I didn't know that. Whoop-de-doo. Way to go. The only thing that matters is the first quarter of the next game."

Indiana has been led offensively by Katie Douglas, who averages 17.7 points while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. She had 22 points and made 3 of 6 shots from long range in last month's meeting with Atlanta.

Dream veteran Chamique Holdsclaw had a game-high 23 points in that contest. She scored 18 to help Atlanta to a 72-65 win over Washington on Friday night.

Holdsclaw, who has been dealing with right knee tendinitis the past three years, is slowly rediscovering the form that made her one of the league's elite players.

"I'm an important player for this team," said Holdsclaw, averaging 14.9 points and 4.0 rebounds. "I'm not always able to fully practice because of my injuries, but I feel good and I'm happy for my team. One thing about us win or lose, we stick together."

Holdsclaw, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft, has been complemented by Angel McCoughtry, this year's top selection. McCoughtry had 14 points off the bench Friday and is averaging 9.4 on the season.

"I think what's happening with Angel is she needs more minutes," Dream coach Marynell Meadors said. "The longer she plays, the better she gets. She has such great potential that she's going to be a great player in this league and a great player for us."