Elizabeth Williams and Alex Bentley finished with 15 points apiece
LOS ANGELES – Elizabeth Williams and Alex Bentley scored 15 points apiece but the Atlanta Dream dropped a 70-60 decision to the Los Angeles Sparks (20-12) Tuesday night at the Staples Center.
Playing without an injured Tiffany Hayes, Bentley was pushed in to the starting lineup. The guard showed up early, scoring nine of her 15 points over the first 10 minutes and led the Dream (7-25) to a 24-16 lead after the first frame.
The Sparks responded in the second quarter, opening on a 14-2 run over the first six minutes to take their first lead of the game. Bentley answered with a pair of the three-pointers to help get the Dream going, who would take a 35-34 lead entering the locker room at the half.
Atlanta struggled from the field most of the third quarter but finished on a 7-0 run highlighted by an Elizabeth Williams put-back to trail the Sparks 51-45 at end of the quarter. The Dream could not get any closer as the Sparks pulled away in the fourth.
Atlanta will open its final homestand of the season this Thursday, September 5 against the Las Vegas Aces beginning at 7:30 p.m. Recording artists We R Fly featuring Easton will be performing live at halftime of Thursday night’s game. Group and single game tickets are available now. For more information, visit atlantadream.net or call 877.977.7729.
The Atlanta Dream, who are celebrating their 12th season in the WNBA in 2019, will play their home games in State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta. The Dream have qualified for the playoffs nine times, winning conference titles in 2013, 2011 and 2010.
Atlanta Dream Notes
- Atlanta started Renee Montgomery, Alex Bentley, Brittney Sykes, Jessica Breland and Elizabeth Williams.
- Alex Bentley started her third game of the season for the Dream.
- Bentley finished with 15 points, her 14th game in double-figures this season.
- Elizabeth Williams finished in double-figure scoring for the 13th time this season with 15 points.
- Renee Montgomery scored 12 points for her 12th double-digit effort of the season.
- Monique Billings finished with 10 rebounds, her fifth double-digit rebounding effort this season.
- Marie Gulich registered a career best three blocks.
- Tiffany Hayes was ruled our prior to the game with a knee injury.