Allisha Gray scored 17 points and Tina Charles added 14 Friday night as the visiting Atlanta Dream surprised the Connecticut Sun 78-74 in Uncasville, Conn.
Winning for just the third time in 10 games, Atlanta (7-9) was able to outfight Connecticut (14-4) in the final five minutes. It took the lead for good when Haley Jones drained a corner 3-pointer with 3:21 left to make it 66-65. Jones finished with eight points and six rebounds.
The Dream scored on eight of their last nine possessions, sealing the outcome via two foul shots apiece from Charles and Jordin Canada in the final 10.3 seconds. Playing without leading scorer Rhyne Howard (ankle) for a third straight game, Atlanta sank 49.1 percent of its field goal attempts and earned a 32-26 advantage on the glass.
DeWanna Bonner scored 17 points for the Sun but made just 4 of 14 attempts from the field. DiJonai Carrington added 15 points and Alyssa Thomas stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
However, Connecticut had trouble making shots, connecting on only 39 percent from the field, and also coughed up 18 turnovers that led to 17 points. The Sun were able to hit 21 of 26 attempts at the foul line but it wasn’t enough.
The big storyline prior to opening tip was Connecticut’s hectic schedule. After surviving Washington’s upset bid to win 94-91 in overtime Thursday night, the Sun got back home at 3 a.m. Friday, about 16 1/2 hours before tip-off.
Despite the lack of rest, they were at least able to match the Dream, who had four days of rest, through three quarters. Atlanta led 15-10 less than six minutes into the game but Connecticut equalized at 19 by the end of the first quarter after a bucket by Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
The Sun led by five on two occasions in the second quarter before settling for a 33-31 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, the Dream found an offensive rhythm, ringing up 26 points and taking a 57-56 edge to the fourth period.
–Field Level Media