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Atlanta Dream

Postgame Notes: Atlanta 79, Las Vegas 89

September 5, 2020 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release


Atlanta Notes

- Atlanta's record against the Las Vegas franchise moves to 16-14 all-time.

o The Aces defeated Atlanta, 100-70, in the team's previous meeting on July 29, 2020.

- The Atlanta Dream started Chennedy Carter, Courtney Williams, Betnijah Laney, Glory Johnson and Elizabeth Williams.

o Johnson started her first game of 2020 today.

- Betnijah Laney recorded her 16th double-digit scoring effort of the season with 21 points tonight.

o She has topped 20 points five times this year.

o Laney tied her career high with four steals. She has done it five times in her career, including three times in 2020.

- Chennedy Carter scored 19 points for her 10th double-digit effort of the season.

o Carter finished with six assists, her fourth game with at least five assists.

- Courtney Williams finished with 18 points, her 13th double-digit game of 2020.

- Elizabeth Williams dropped 10 points for her eighth double-digit effort.

Atlanta Quotes

Head Coach Nicki Collen

On the Las Vegas Aces 10-0 run in the fourth quarter...

"I think it was a tough stretch because we got good shots. During that stretch we had a layup for Elizabeth [Williams] on a drop off from Mo [Monique Billings]. Then Blake [Dietrick] had a driving left handed layup. So, we had back to back layups that we missed. Then, we got a wide open three for Strick [Shekinna Stricklen] in the corner with a nice screen from Mo [Monique Billings]. That happens. You miss those and in that combination was, obviously, the fast break clear path. Which hurts you. I thought even on that one we had a nice kick out, and we were being overly unselfish. Blake [Dietrick] should have shot it. Tried to make the extra to Strick [Shekinna Stricklen] and Angel [McCoughtry] stole it. That was it. I think the combination of that. We had done an incredible job, I thought, on A'ja Wilson. I thought she got the benefit of the whistle in the fourth quarter and that happens in this league. [Diana] Taurasi gets the benefit of the whistle in the fourth quarter. A'ja [Wilson] got the benefit of the whistle today. I thought we played pretty good defense on a couple of our turnarounds. Obviously, the officials thought otherwise. It was that combination. I said going in, if you look at it, we shoot the basketball a little better - we were 1-12 from the arc - we have to shoot the basketball better. This is a team that loads up in the lane and makes you kick it. We probably needed to kick it a little more and we needed to shoot a little better. I think the three point line was the difference. If you look at their four three's versus our one, that's the game right there."

Guard-Forward Betnijah Laney, (#44)

On the growth of the Atlanta Dream in tonight's game versus their last game against the Aces...

"I think we've come a long way. Last time we played them we didn't have our full roster, but today we kind of did, minus one player. I think that we've been showing growth all season as we continue to go and build our team chemistry."

On their approach to get ready for the final stretch of games...

"Just take it one day at a time. Continue to stay focused, regardless of the outcome. I think that we still have a chance. We believe that we still have a chance. We just got to keep going. Leave this one behind us and focus on the next one. Just take it from there."

Guard Courtney Williams, (#10)

On the growth of the team over the season...

"I think we're building our chemistry. I think you can definitely see the improvement game to game to game. So, we're just trying to get better every game."

On how the team builds on their momentum for the last few games...

"I think exactly what I just said. Just keep getting better. Getting better defensively. Getting better offensively. Everybody just getting into their mojo, getting into their rhythm, and learning how to play with each other."

Check out the Atlanta Dream Statistics

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