Tulsa gets first road win, defeats embattled Atlanta Dream; Cambage expected back next season
Both Tulsa and Atlanta experienced rocky weeks but the Shock adeptly handled their adversity to win their first road game this season defeating the Dream 84-80. Atlanta slipped to 12-13, including a 6-6 home record, falling for the second straight time at home. Tulsa improved to 5-19.
“That was a good win for us,” said Tulsa head coach Gary Kloppenburg. “That was our first road win and we battled all year for a road win and we got it. I was really happy about how we came out in the second half. I thought in the first half we started off a little sluggish, especially in the first quarter defensively. We had to pick our energy up and I thought we did that. We did some matchup on them and got them hesitant. We also got some big free throws down the stretch to pull it out. I am extremely pleased.”
Yesterday the Shock learned that 6-8 center Elizabeth Cambage, an Australian national team member who competed in the 2012 Olympics, decided not to show up for the second half of the season. Cambage missed pre-Olympic WNBA play due to her training schedule with her national team. However, the Shock created hype all summer for her return even creating a special splash page for their website.
“I think the situation is, with the Olympics, she is just overwhelmed trying to get her career started,” said Kloppenburg. “I think she looked at our remaining 10 games and realized she is fatigued and didn’t want to come back over. But we are planning on her attending training camp next year and get going again.”
However, Tulsa overcame the surprise no-show and came from behind to beat the Dream, a team with a new head coach and without the services of star forward Angel McCoughtry who was suspended indefinitely, effective Monday. The team owners also fired head coach and general manager Marynell Meadors on Monday after days of tense relations between her and McCoughtry. The Dream promoted assistant coach Fred Williams to the top coaching job.
“The change happened when I took over the team,” said Williams post-game, taking responsibility McCoughtry’s suspension. “It’s been aired out there and I know everybody wants to know what’s going on with her, but I’ll find out more tomorrow and be able to have more statements for you when I talk with her.”
Williams gave no indication as to the length of the suspension.
“She is suspended indefinitely right now until I have a conversation with her and we can clear some things in the air,” said Williams.
Roneeka Hodges and Temeka Johnson led Tulsa’s resurgence.
“Tonight was a valuable lesson,” said Hodges, “because it taught us that no matter how much we are down we can get back into the game, if we play the way we know how to play and stick together as a team.”
At the half Atlanta led 51-44. Tulsa outscored the Dream 23-11 in the third quarter and ended the period with a five-point lead, 67-62. Hodges finished with 20 points while Johnson added 17 points and six assists. Ivory Latta, a former Dream player, had 14 points and four rebounds and rookie Glory Johnson added 10 points and eight rebounds.
“I think it was good win for us, something we needed,” said Johnson. “Even though it is late in the season we look for things to capitalize on. In the second half we really picked up our defensive intensity, whereas the first half we just allowed them to do what they wanted to do. Atlanta has a lot of great athletes with full speed and I think we knew that and just picked it up in the second half and it ended in our favor.”
Erika de Souza led Atlanta with 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Sancho Lyttle socred 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Armintie Price added 13 points, Cathrine Kraayeveld scored 11 and Lindsey Harding and Tiffany Hayes had 10 points each.
Williams praised Tulsa’s late game effort.
“Tulsa is a hungry team that has been playing well down the stretch and they’re a dangerous team. They’re playing really loose.”
Shock Notes
- Tulsa won for the second time in three games to improve to 5-19, and is now 1-10 on the road this season.
- Tulsa won on the road for the first time since Aug. 26, 2011 at Los Angeles. The Shock had lost 13 straight road games since then.
- After trailing by as many as 17 points in the second quarter (47-30), Tulsa rallied to take its first lead in the third quarter at 56-55, thanks to a 26-8 run spanning the two quarters.
- Glory Johnson had her 11th game in double figures.
