Atlanta Dream fall to Chicago Sky for first loss of season

The Atlanta Dream looked to remain perfect to open the 2014 season, as Shoni Schimmel and company took to the Windy City. Unfortunately, the Dream couldn’t hold off the still undefeated Chicago Sky, and they dropped their first contest of the season 87-73.

It wasn’t a lack of shooting that did the Dream in, as they shot 42% from the floor and 80% from the charity stripe, but they were outdone by Chicago’s 47% and 86%, respectively. The real dagger came from downtown, as the Sky shot 57% compared to a lowly 29% by Atlanta.

Like we saw last week, the Dream overcame a early big deficit, as the Sky at one point lead 11-4, but Atlanta came all the way back to take a lead late in the first quarter, and from there the lead went back and forth between the two squads, and the first half came to an end with Chicago ahead 41-39.

While it wasn’t all Chicago after that point, the Dream wouldn’t take a lead in the second half, but did come within a couple points on an occasion, but when it was all said and done, the Dream didn’t have another comeback run in them.

Atlanta was led in scoring by Erika de Souza with 18 points, along with 12 rebounds and going 8-10 from the floor. Schimmel wasn’t far behind, finishing with 17 points and four boards, as well as three steals and blocks, each. The Dream were out the services of Olympian and All-Star Angel McCoughtry, as she was out with a rhomboid strain.

On the other end of the court, Chicago’s Elena Delle Donne lead all scorers, netting 27 points. In total, five Sky players reached double figures in points compared to only the two aforementioned Dream scorers, as well as Tiffany Hayes with 12 off the bench.

The Dream return to Phillips Arena on Sunday night, and will look to take another game from the Indiana Fever, who they beat in double overtime in Indianapolis a weekend ago.