WNBA Las Vegas Aces

Aces Keep Pace with Front-Running Connecticut with 79-71 Road Win over Atlanta

Published on August 26, 2021 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Las Vegas Aces News Release


COLLEGE PARK, GA - Las Vegas remains one game behind the front-running Connecticut Sun (19-6) iin the race for the number one seed in the WNBA playoffs, thanks to a 78-71 road win over the Atlanta Dream (6-19), Thursday.

Angel McCoughtry, who has missed the entire regular season with an ACL injury, checked into the game with 7.9 seconds remaining, making her first appearance in Atlanta since leaving the team in free agency prior to the 2020 season.

It was the 300th regular season win in Bill Laimbeer's WNBA coaching career.

KEY RUNS

First Quarter (Atlanta 24, Las Vegas 22)

Tied at 8, the Dream went on a 6-0 run for their largest lead of the quarter, 14-8 Las Vegas went 6 for 8 from the free throw line, while Atlanta went 2 for 2. The Dream made 50 percent of their field goal attempts while Las Vegas made 38.1 percent.

Second Quarter (Atlanta 24, Las Vegas 18)

Las Vegas re-took the lead early in the second, and were still up 1, 37-36, with 3:40 remaining in the half. Atlanta scored 7 straight, and 12 of the next 13 to lea by 10, 48-38. The Dream went 3 for 6 from three-point range and 7 of 7 from the charity stripe, while the Aces went 1 for 5 and 1 for 2 respectively.

Third Quarter (Atlanta 62, Las Vegas 61)

It was still a 7-point Atlanta lead with 2:51 to go in the third, but the Aces scored 8 straight points to go up one before the Dream ended the quarter with an Elizabeth Williams jumper.

Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 78, Atlanta 71)

The Dream led by as many as four early in the quarter, but Las Vegas took the lead for good on a Liz Cambage layup with 4:43 remaining. That made the score 70-69, and the Aces scored 8 of the final 10 points of the game to secure the win. Las Vegas held Atlanta without a point for the final 3:38 of the quarter. The Aces held the Dream to nine points in the quarter, and 23 in the second half, as well as 25.0 percent shooting from the field after halftime.

KEY STATS

The Dream scored 13 points off of 10 Las Vegas turnovers, while the Aces flipped 9 Atlanta miscues into 6 points.

The Aces outscored the Dream, 12-7, in second chance points.

Atlanta made 25.0 percent of its field goal attempts in the second half.

For the second straight game, Las Vegas was held below its average for made (11) and attempted (15) free throws.

The Dream made 7 of 23 shots from three-point range, while the Aces went 3 for 13.

The Aces outscored the Dream 50-32 in the paint.

GAME NOTES

A'ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 24th time this season, and the 102nd time in her career (21 points). It was the 11th game of 20 or more points for Wilson, and the 51st of her career. She added 12 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season and 33rd of her career.

Liz Cambage scored in double figures for the 22nd time this season and the 120th time in her career (17 points).

Dearica Hamby scored in double figures for the 14th time this season and the 95th time in her career (20 points). It was her 4th game this year of 20 or more points and the 12th of her career.

Jackie Young scored in double figures for the 16th time this season and the 35th time in her career (10 points).

Kelsey Plum handed out 8 assists with 0 turnovers, the second most assists without a turnover in a game this year.

NEXT OPPONENT

The Aces travel to Indiana, Saturday, August 28 for a 10 am PT tip against the Fever.

Check out the Las Vegas Aces Statistics

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