The Sports Inquirer

Behind center Erika DeSouza’s game-high 27 points and team-high 11 rebounds, the Atlanta Dream (4-3) earned a 93-85 win over the Los Angeles Sparks (2-3) on June 3 at Philips Arena.

Sancho Lyttle had a game-high 12 rebounds for the Dream along with 18 points. Angel McCoughtry scored 14 points for Atlanta along with a team-high five assists.

Paced by a 14-4 run in the middle of the third quarter, Atlanta took a 75-65 lead into the fourth quarter. The Sparks continued to cut into the lead throughout the final frame with the comeback chances increasing when McCoughtry fouled out of the contest with 3:38 left in the game and Los Angeles only down 83-82.

On the Dream’s next possession, Lyttle posted up and converted a layup to increase the lead to three points and blocked a Candace Parker jumper on the other end to secure the victory.

Jantel Lavender led all scorers for Los Angeles with 21 points while Parker posted 15 points. Nneka Ogwumike had a game-high 12 rebounds along with 19 points for the Sparks.

“The ladies are buying into the system that we have,” said Dream head coach Michael Cooper. “It takes time for this to happen and we’re going to get even better.”

Los Angeles led after the first quarter 23-18 using aggressive defensive pressure that hampered the Dream’s offense and forced the home team to commit seven turnovers. The Sparks took advantage of those turnovers and shot 52.6 percent from the floor in the quarter led by Parker’s seven points.

The Dream also struggled with foul trouble in the first quarter with starting guard Tiffany Hayes picking up three fouls in the first four minutes of play.

Atlanta improved its ball possession in the second quarter, starting the frame on an 11-4 run to take a 28-27 lead with 7:30 left in the first half. Both traded baskets for the rest of the quarter with the Dream holding a 46-43 lead at halftime.

Lavender led all scorers at the half with 14 points while Parker had 13 for the Sparks. McCoughtry and Lyttle had eight points each for the Dream. Atlanta held significant advantages in points in the paint (32-24) and second-chance points (14-4).

The Dream return to action tomorrow night in a home contest against the first-place Chicago Sky.