Allisha Gray scored a game-high 24 points to help the Atlanta Dream post a 90-81 victory over the visiting Golden State Valkyries in College Park, Ga., on Monday.
Naz Hillmon added a season-high 16 points off the bench, while Rhyne Howard notched 15 for the Dream (12-7), who outscored Golden State 26-13 in the final quarter to pull away. Brionna Jones tallied 14 points and eight rebounds and Brittney Griner had 11 points in the win.
Golden State (9-9) was led by Monique Billings’ 19 points, followed by Kayla Thornton’s 15 and Tiffany Hayes’ 12. Veronica Burton and Kate Martin added 11 points apiece for the Valkyries, who dropped a second straight game to begin their four-game road trip.
After the Valkyries held a two-point edge at halftime, Hayes’ layup and triple pushed Golden State’s lead to 55-50 at the 5:15 mark, forcing an Atlanta timeout.
The Dream took a 64-63 lead on Hillmon’s triple with less than a minute left, before Martin’s three and Billings’ layup helped the Valkyries enter the final quarter with a four-point edge.
In the fourth, Howard’s 3-pointer knotted the score at 75 with 5:46 remaining. Gray’s three-point play then gave the Dream a 78-75 edge just over a minute later. Hillmon’s 3-pointer extended the run to 12-0 at the 2:22 mark, as Atlanta’s lead ballooned to 84-75.
Billings’ mid-range jumper with two minutes left snapped a four-plus minute scoring drought for Golden State, cutting the Valkyries’ deficit to seven, but Hillmon responded with a 3-pointer to seal the win.
Golden State connected on five of seven 3-point attempts in the first quarter to take a 26-16 lead after 10 minutes of play.
Atlanta cut into its deficit with a 10-4 run to open the second quarter, which was stamped with Jordin Canada’s mid-range jumper at the 6:49 mark.
After Stephanie Talbot’s basket gave Golden State a 35-30 edge, Atlanta answered with an 8-0 run – including six points from Griner – to take its first lead.
Golden State finished the first half on an 8-0 run to take a 45-43 halftime lead. Billings led the Valkyries with 11 first-half points, while Gray paced the Dream with 16.
–Field Level Media
