Dream win seventh straight behind Howard’s strong effort in victory over Lynx
By The Associated Press on July 18, 2023.
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) – Rhyne Howard had 21 points and seven assists, Nia Coffey added 13 points and 10 rebounds and the Atlanta Dream beat the Minnesota Lynx 82-73 on Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to seven games. Atlanta (12-8) led by 22 points in the first half before Minnesota rallied behind Napheesa Collier, who scored a career-high 35 points, to get within 70-68. Howard made Atlanta’s first field goal in over seven minutes to extend the advantage to 72-68 with 2:44 left. That started a 10-0 run that also included Howard’s three-point play that made it 78-68 with 1:37 left. Minnesota (9-12) couldn’t recover. Howard also set a WNBA record with her 18th consecutive game of making two or more 3-pointers. MERCURY 72, SUN 66 PHOENIX (AP) – Sophie Cunningham scored 17 points, hitting five 3-pointers, Diana Taurasi added 15 and the Mercury beat the Sun to snap a six-game losing streak in the series. Phoenix (5-15) beat a team with a winning record for the first time this season. It was the Mercury’s first home win against the Sun since the 2018 season. Cunningham made her fourth 3-pointer to extend the lead to 53-43 with 2:45 left in the third quarter. Her fifth gave Phoenix a 58-48 lead heading into the fourth. Brittney Griner finished with 12 points. DeWanna Bonner had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut (15-6). Alyssa Thomas had 11 points and seven assists. Thomas became Connecticut’s all-time leader in assists, passing Jasmine Thomas (994). 12-11
