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Vandersloot's late jumper lifts Sky past Dream in Game 1 of East SF

Aug 23, 2014 - 2:07 AM Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Courtney Vandersloot provided the go-ahead jumper with 20.9 seconds remaining and the Chicago Sky edged the Atlanta Dream, 80-77, in the first game of their best-of-three Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Angel McCoughtry scored nine straight Atlanta points, and her jumper put the Dream ahead 77-75 with 1:40 left in the game. After Tiffany Hayes turned the ball over, Tamera Young's driving layup tied the game with just under a minute to play.

Shoni Schimmel missed a jumper and Elena Delle Donne blocked Erika de Souza's putback attempt. Delle Donne won the jump ball and Vandersloot's jumper made it a 79-77 game with 20.9 seconds remaining.

After a timeout, Atlanta worked the ball around to McCoughtry, whose 3-point attempt bounced off the front of the rim. Epiphanny Prince grabbed the rebound, forcing Schimmel to foul. After Jasmine Thomas also fouled, Vandersloot split a pair of free throws to seal the win.

Delle Donne led the Sky with 21 points and Sylvia Fowles had 12 points and 14 rebounds in the win.

McCoughtry paced the Dream with a game-high 24 points and de Souza scored 12 in the setback.

The two teams will continue the series in Chicago on Sunday.

Atlanta led 23-18 heading into the second quarter and scored 10 straight points early in the frame, but Chicago came roaring back late in the period with six points from Delle Donne in a 13-2 spurt. Prince ended the quarter with a trey, getting the Sky within 37-36 going into halftime.

Atlanta and Chicago both scored 21 points in the third and the Dream maintained their 1-point lead with a 58-57 score heading into the final stanza.