2016 WNBA season scores: Hayes leads Dream as Liberty implode again; 2 takeaways

The Atlanta Dream overcame a sloppy first half and leaned on Tiffany Hayes' best performance of the season yet to defeat the New York Liberty, 85-79 in overtime on Tuesday and move to the top of the Eastern Conference standings with a 3-1 record early in the 2016 regular season.

Hayes scored 27 points including 10-for-10 from the free throw line and added 11 rebounds, while Angel McCoughtry, who was scoreless in just over four minutes in the first half, dropped 15 points in the second half and overtime. Elizabeth Williams had 16 points and nine boards.

The Liberty, the no. 1 defensive team in the 2015 WNBA season, and the team which allowed the least PPG, showed the Dream a sample of that hard-nosed defense in the first half, limiting the Dream to only 20.9 percent field goal shooting in the first half as the Liberty took a 39-32 lead.

The Chicago Sky, which lost to to Dream the other night, 87-81 had trouble with the Dream's pick and roll plays. But it was a different complexion against the Liberty, which trapped the Dream's pick and rolls effectively while having others to help underneath the rim.

Tina Charles then opened the third quarter with a slew of baskets as the Liberty took a 57-45 lead. But even after that, the Dream remained aggressive.

Hayes and McCoughtry joined hands in cutting the deficit down to only 60-54 entering the fourth quarter. Both sides exchanged baskets before Williams gave the Dream the 68-67 lead. Later, free throws by Carla Cortijo and Bria Holmes gave Atlanta a 77-75 lead but Sugar Rodgers forced extension with a difficult basket inside of the final 20.3 seconds.

Things got sloppy in overtime as both teams missed badly from the field. It wasn't until the 2:21 mark when McCoughtry hit a go-ahead jumper. She added another in the final 38.9 seconds, pushing the Dream ahead 83-77.

Charles led the Liberty with 29 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, seven steals, and two blocks. Charles shot 13-for-24 from the field and even made a triple, although she missed her last four attempts from the field.

The Liberty had their chances, but shot poorly from outside the paint. Rodgers and Tanisha Wright combined for only 8-for-28 from the field, missing a ton of open jumpers and pull-ups which the Liberty normally make.

Here are two takeaways from this game:

There is less pressure for McCoughtry to take charge

McCoughtry averaged 20.1 PPG last season, but that number is down to only 17 PPG three games into this season. With more weapons like Hayes, Layshia Clarendon, and even Williams and Sancho Lyttle, there is less pressure for McCoughtry to carry her team heavily.

While McCoughtry's usage rate (USG%) is still at 32.2 (32.8 last season), more Dream players are stepping up. Hayes' USG% is 20.1, Clarendon 21.8, and Williams 13.8. This is different from last season, and such balance is vital for the Dream because it will make their offense more unpredictable and dangerous. Less pressure for McCoughtry would also mean she doesn't have to be very exhausted after the end of each game.

Charles can't do it alone

Charles basically did everything for the Liberty, but Bill Laimbeer should get production from more people. Rodgers averaged 21.5 PPG in the Liberty's first two wins, but was a non-factor last night. Brittany Boyd, and Shavonte Zellous combined for only eight points on 3-for-15 shooting. Understandably, Epiphanny Prince is still recovering from an injury but if the Liberty want to pile a good number of wins before she returns, they have to get more production from players not named Tina Charles.

Last night's scores

Atlanta Dream 85, New York Liberty 79 (OT)

Los Angeles Sparks 93, Chicago Sky 80
The Sparks remained undefeated after a convincing win over the Sky. Five players scored in double-digits for the Sparks, led by 26 points and nine rebounds from Candace Parker. Nneka Ogwumike had 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting, while Jantel Lavender added 16 points off the bench.

Jamierra Faulkner led the Sky, which did not have Courtney Vandersloot for the second straight game, with 17 points and 10 assists. Jessica Breland contributed 16 points and nine rebounds, but reigning MVP Elena Delle Donne was held to only eight points on 4-for-14 shooting.

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