Dream-Silver Stars Preview

By KATE HEDLIN

(AP) -- While many WNBA teams are looking forward to the month-long break for the London Olympics, the San Antonio Silver Stars may not be one of them.

The Silver Stars look to win a franchise-record ninth straight game Friday night when they host the Atlanta Dream, who could be without leading scorer Angel McCoughtry for a fourth consecutive game.

The Silver Stars (12-5) tied the franchise record at eight with a 77-68 win over Chicago on Wednesday. Sophia Young and Danielle Robinson each scored 16 points and Jia Perkins added 11.

"It was just another team effort," guard Becky Hammon said. "Everybody came in and contributed. We had that little burst at the end where we could create separation."

San Antonio got 34 points from its bench against the Sky, and Perkins has been a big part of the reserves' recent success. She's averaged 15.3 points the last four games - 4.2 above her season mark.

Wednesday's victory ended a 4-0 road trip for San Antonio, which returns home looking for a seventh straight win at the AT&T Center.

"I don't even know how many games we've won in a row to be honest," coach Dan Hughes said. "I don't care. What I do see is people starting to understand how to play with each other and getting their roles down. ... We've been able to understand how important our bench is and how we play together. We feel like we're playing good basketball."

The Dream (9-9), conversely, are probably ready for the month-long hiatus as they continue an extended road trip with McCoughtry ailing. They have played their last five away from home and continued their pattern of alternating wins and losses with a 70-59 victory over Seattle on Wednesday.

Sancho Lyttle scored 21 points and Lindsey Harding added 15 as Atlanta never trailed and held the Storm to 39.6 percent shooting.

"We came in and played a great defensive game and took them a little bit out of their rhythm," coach Marynell Meadors said. "We shot the ball very well, especially when the clock was winding down to less than 2 or 3 seconds. Call it luck or whatever, but the shots went in."

The victory came without McCoughtry, who missed a third straight game because of a knee injury. She's averaging 22.6 points and it's not certain if she'll play Friday as she also prepares to participate in the Olympics.

Atlanta overcame 22 turnovers to defeat San Antonio 60-57 on June 8. McCoughtry had a team-high 16 for the Dream. Young was the lone Silver Star in double figures with 21.

Updated July 12, 2012