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Atlanta Dream

Postgame Notes - Atlanta 97, Chicago 89

September 10, 2020 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release


Atlanta Dream (6-14) at Chicago Sky (11-10)

September 9, 2020

Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final Points Rebounds Assists

Atlanta 20 25 28 24 97 Laney - 24 Three with 10 Carter/ Dietrick - 5

Chicago 21 34 18 16 89 Vandersloot - 22 Vandersloot/ Copper - 7 Vandersloot - 11

Atlanta Notes

- After tonight's win, the Atlanta Dream are now 19-30 all-time against the Chicago Sky.

o Atlanta dropped a 92-67 decision to Chicago on August 16.

o This win snapped the Dream's four-game losing streak to Chicago.

- For the first time in franchise history, three different Dream players recorded double-doubles in the same game (Betnijah Laney - 24 points/10 rebounds, Courtney Williams - 20 points/10 rebounds, Elizabeth Williams - 11 points, 10 rebounds).

- Atlanta scored a season-high 28 points in the third quarter on its way to erasing a season-best 18-point deficit during the quarter.

- Chennedy Carter continued her excellent rookie campaign, scoring 16 points for her 11th double-digit game of the season.

- Betnijah Laney finished with 24 points, her team-leading 17th double-digit scoring effort of the season.

o She has scored in double figures in 11 of her last 12 games and has had six 20-point outings.

o Laney grabbed 10 rebounds and recorded her third double-double of the season.

o Her 8 defensive rebounds and 10 total rebounds are both career-high records.

- Courtney Williams recorded 20 points for her 14th double-digit game of 2020.

o Williams finished with her fourth double-double of the season and ninth of her career after grabbing 10 rebounds.

o She registered her third 20-point game of the season.

- Blake Dietrick, who finished with 15 points, has knocked down at least one three point shot in 12 consecutive games.

o She recorded her sixth double-digit scoring effort of the season.

o Her four free-throws made were a new career-high.

o She is on pace to set the franchise record for three-point shooting percentage with 48.1% after tonight's game.

- Elizabeth Williams scored 11 points for her 10th double-digit scoring effort of the season.

o With her 10 rebounds, Williams recorded her third double-double of the season and 13th of her career.

o Her 6 defensive and 10 total rebounds both tie her season-high records.

- The Atlanta Dream started Chennedy Carter, Courtney Williams, Betnijah Laney, Shekinna Stricklen and Elizabeth Williams.

- Atlanta tied their season-low records of nine turnovers and 12 turnovers.

Atlanta Quotes

Head Coach Nicki Collen

On Blake Dietrick contribution to the win off the bench ...

"She came in and she made shots, and even in the two for one situation to end the second quarter to keep close and to realize she really understood what she had to do there. It's amazing how when you ask a player to take that shot, how easy it is to make it. You're not questioning whether or not you should take it in that two for one situation. You're just aggressively searching shots. As much as her making shots, it was her defensive energy, getting through screens, making it a little tougher on Slooty [Courtney Vandersloot], being able to switch and give us size. There were a number of switches that we made and balls screens late and just covered up for each other. Chicago's just a really really good offensive team. As long as we got contest, [Kahleah] Copper got off on us early, but when we contested them, we did a good job in this game of giving them one shot. Second shots have hurt us all season, but the last time we played them really hurts."

On what her message was to the team during their timeout in the third quarter when they were down 18 points...

"We're gonna have to guard. It all came back to pride. That was the word I used multiple times. You have to have pride in your defense. We're not going to come back. We were down ten. I thought at the end of the second quarter we were doing some good things. Thinking we were in a place coming out of the locker room where we were horrific. Our posts were 1-16, and most of those were in the paint in the first half. For us to even be within ten at halftime, I felt like we had a run in us. To quickly get down 18 and have to call that timeout, it was about -- we can't get in this unless we're going to scrap and claw and get out there defensively. It was all about defensive pride. To start the second half, we gave up a diagonal screen to Hebard [Ruthy Hebard]. Then we missed a switch. We went under a ball screen on Quigley [Allie Quigley]. We just didn't follow game plan. You saw when they started digging in. They started following the game plan. When they covered for each other. We may not be the biggest or the strongest or the fastest, but we got a little bit of everything. When we're tough and we follow game plans, you saw how we can scrap and claw against a really good offensive team. I was just really proud of them that they immediately battled back and went on there on run after that timeout. I think that that gave them confidence. If they had of come out of that timeout and hadn't made a run, it would have been easy to pack it in because we were down 18. But, because 18 became 10 right away, we just kept clawing away. We felt like we were in the game."

Center Elizabeth Williams, #1

On how it feels to have a chance to make the playoffs ...

"It's really nice. We control our own destiny now. We're fortunate that things are starting to click more and more. We're just going to keep fighting. We were down 18, and I think we all decided that this wasn't going to be the way our season ends. We're just going to keep working, keep fighting, and it's more encouraging when you're playing for something for sure."

On what Nicki Collen's speech was during their timeout while they were down 18 points ...

"Defense. I mean they had 34 points in the second quarter. You're not going to win games if teams score 100 on you. It was literally hunker down, get stops, get boards, and to do our thing. We did a really good job of that in the second half."

Guard Blake Dietrick, #11

On how she thought she played in tonight's game ...

"I mean I think my job is to make my teammates better and help our team win. If that means I score some points, that's great. If that means I assist as many times as possible, great. If that means that all I do is defend, that's fine. My goal always is to move the ball, because I think that I'm much less of a scoring point guard like Chennedy [Carter]. Of course she's going to look out for her shot, but for me I'm just trying to facilitate to the amazing people I play with - Courtney [Williams], E [Elizabeth Williams], Betnijah [Laney]. Get them into actions and places where they're getting really good shots. I think that's the best way that I can help the team."

On the team's confidence going into the fourth quarter in tonight's game ...

"Going into the fourth I think we felt great. We were in it. We were back. I think we were a little bit gassed. We had to push pretty hard to get there. Once we turned it around after that quick eight points out of halftime, we were feeling good. We knew we could play with them at that point. It was game on. It was 0-0."

Forward-Guard Betnijah Laney, #44

On her 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in tonight's game...

"It was a good game. It was fun to play once we got going. I think everybody played well. Everybody that came out there contributed. I think that that's why we were able to get the win."

On what she will be most proud of this season individually...

"I think my perseverance. Not allowing anything that's happened and not allowing anything that I've gone through to define what this year will look like for me. The fact that I was able to keep going and finally show people what I'm capable of, that's what I'm most proud of."

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