Big fourth quarter propels Dream past struggling Sky

Rhyne Howard scored 22 points and Allisha Gray added 19 as the Atlanta Dream knocked down six three-point attempts in the fourth quarter and pulled away for a 93-80 home victory over the Chicago Sky on Sunday at College Park, Georgia.

Gray and Te-Hina Paopao (16 points) each hit five threes, while Howard converted four and Naz Hillmon (12 points) added two for the Dream (10-4), who attempted 33 shots from distance en route to a sixth consecutive home victory.

Chicago's Ariel Atkins netted a game-high 29 points and Angel Reese recorded a season-high 19 rebounds to go with 10 points.

Although Chicago (3-10) was much more competitive than in Saturday's 107-8 loss to Phoenix, the Sky was outscored 24-11 in the fourth quarter to lose for the sixth time in seven games.

The score was tied at 69 after three quarters and Chicago scored the first four points of the fourth on two Atkins' free throws and a basket from Elizabeth Williams (16 points). However, Gray, Paopao and Howard each hit a 3 during the Dream's 9-0 surge. Then after Atkins' successful jumper, Paopao and Hillman each knocked down a three-pointer to put Atlanta up 84-75 with 4:35 left in regulation.

Atlanta went 9-of-17 from three-point range in the first half, with Gray and Paopao going a combined 7-of-9 from distance through the first two quarters. The Dream led by as many as nine in the first half, but the visitors shot 57.1% through the first 20 minutes and reeled off six consecutive points, two from Williams and four via Atkins to lead 45-44.

However, Hillman's reverse layup just before the break gave the Dream a one-point lead at halftime.

Things remained tight throughout the third quarter, where the Sky led 55-52 following an Atkins' 3-pointer with 6:21 remaining in the period.

Brionna Jones posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the hosts.