Game Preview: Dream vs. Monarchs (07/22/08)

The Dream begin a three-game home stretch on Tuesday, with a rematch against the Sacramento Monarchs. This is the second matchup in less than a week between the two teams. The game will be designated as �Kids Day� at the arena. All tickets are $10 for this game only and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by calling 404.604.2626.

The Dream are coming off a six-game road swing in which they finished 2-4. In their most recent game, the Dream fell to the Phoenix Mercury 110-84 in the second of back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday night. Diana Taurasi scored 21 points in 22 minutes to lead Phoenix to the win. Kasha Terry scored 14 of her career-high 16 points in the first half to lead the Dream. Terry also recorded a career-high 11 rebounds in the loss. Ivory Latta scored a team-high 18 points and Izi Castro Marques chipped in with 17. The Dream missed 14 of 20 shots to start the game and were unable to recover from a 51-37 halftime deficit. After getting off to a strong start on the road, Atlanta has lost four of their last five.

The Monarchs are in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference with a record of 12-11. Sacramento is coming off a huge win against Detroit, dealing the Shock their first loss of the season at home, 88-85. Kara Lawson hit a jumper with 39 seconds left to break the tie and give the Monarchs their fourth win in a row. Rebekkah Brunson led the way with 18 points and Ticha Penicheiro added 17 for Sacramento. Deanna Nolan scored a game-high 27 points for Detroit and Cheryl Ford recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Monarchs defeated the Dream 77-73 in Sacramento on Friday, July 18. Atlanta rallied from a 19-point fourth quarter deficit to outscore Sacramento 32-20 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn�t enough for the win. A Betty Lennox three cut the lead to one, 71-70, with 1:32 to go in the game. Former Monarchs point guard Kristin Haynie came off the bench to score a season-high 12 points for the Dream, and Betty Lennox and Ivory Latta both finished with 11 points. Sacramento was led by rookie forward Crystal Kelly�s 15 points. Nicole Powell added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Monarchs.

The Dream have two more home games this week before the Olympic Break, taking on the Washington Mystics on Friday night and the New York Liberty on Sunday afternoon. Tip-off against the Mystics is scheduled for 7:30 pm at Philips Arena.