Rhyne Howard Shines in Physical Matchup Against Indiana

Apr 14, 2024

August 7, 2023

A 24-point performance by Howard and third quarter outburst by Allisha Gray helps Atlanta end their two-game losing streak

By: Edwin Garcia

Game recap:

COLLEGE PARK: Rhyne Howard scored 24 points to help the Atlanta Dream snap their two-game losing streak beating the Indiana Fever 82-73 in front of another sell-out crowd at home.

The victory puts the Dream at 15-13, tied with Dallas for the fourth and final home-court playoff spot, while the loss drops the Fever down to 7-20 on the season.

Nia Coffey established dominance early in the first quarter, scoring 7 of her 9 points in the opening frame. She was active on both sides of the ball, stuffing Emma Cannon near the basket and forcing a turnover leading to an easy layup and a 15-7 start for Atlanta.

Holding a double-digit advantage entering the second half Rhyne Howard went to work, hitting a pair of threes and finding an open Cheyenne Parker for another basket from downtown. The Dream shot 45% from the three-point line compared to Indiana’s 30.8%. Allisha Gray got going in the third, scoring the team’s last 7 points to give Atlanta a 62-50 lead entering the fourth.

In the final frame, Indiana made one last push with Kelsey Mitchell taking over, scoring eight straight in the fourth to cut the deficit down to five. The Fever got within three midway through the quarter when Atlanta finally secured the result with a pair of blocks by Gray and Parker, followed by a Gray 14-footer. The Fever never got any closer as Indiana lost their fourth road game in a row.

Lineup notes:

Your Atlanta Dream Starting 5! #atlantadream | @GeorgiaLottery pic.twitter.com/tfnWn85zt7

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 6, 2023

No surprises from Atlanta with their starting lineup; they’ve gone with the same five players for four games in a row; Danielle Robinson, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Nia Coffey and Cheyenne Parker.

For Indiana, it was the same five they sent out against the Connecticut Sun on Friday; Emma Cannon, Aliyah Boston, Erica Wheeler, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull.

Standout moments:

The look at the end says it all 😎#atlantadream pic.twitter.com/lYbKdHIndD

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 6, 2023

Through three quarters, Atlanta was in complete control and Howard was a big reason why. The Atlanta guard shot 9-18 from the field and was unguardable down the stretch.

NONTHIN' BUT NET💦3⃣ @Graytness_15 #atlantadream pic.twitter.com/xrBJjbBRs6

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 6, 2023

Gray can dominate a game quickly and that’s exactly what she did at the end of the third/ start of the fourth when she scored ten straight for Atlanta. This outburst helped maintain the double-digit cushion the Dream had, which was needed as the Fever made a run to cut the deficit down to three in the fourth.

NOT TODAY🗣️🚫!!!#atlantadream pic.twitter.com/SENWRWLhxp

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) August 6, 2023

Parker had the impossible task of defending Boston all night. While Boston had a double-double and dominated, Parker stepped up when it counted, getting a key block on Boston when it was just a one-possession game midway through the fourth. Parker ended the night with 16 points, 6 rebounds and forced Boston into foul trouble as she had five fouls in the fourth and had to be just a bit less aggressive late in the game to avoid getting fouled out.

Postgame Sounds:

Head coach Tanisha Wright, “Good feel-good win for us. When you’re coming off of a two-game losing streak, I don’t care how you get one; you gotta go get one… we did some really good things tonight.”

Coach Wright on receiving a technical foul: “I can’t let that get the best of me. I think, at times, my energy toward them (the refs) probably rubs off on them (her players) and they start worrying about fouls and they start worrying about calls and they start talking to the referees, so I got to learn to keep my cool a little bit more when it comes to the refs.”

Allisha Gray, “The biggest thing is you just got to stay poised; they’re going to hit shots just got to stay poised.”

Rhyne Howard, “The contact really didn’t affect me that much, but it’s just the simple fact that if I have the ball, I know everybody is looking at me; why are you not looking at me getting grabbed? Why do you not see that? I can’t really say anything and that really goes back to the tech that T (coach) got because it shows me that she’s got my back; it also shows that I don’t have to say anything because I know she will.”

Stats:

Atlanta: 23 assists, Indiana 12 assists

Atlanta 45% from three, Indiana 30.8%

Atlanta:

Rhyne Howard 24 points (9-18 FG, 3-7 3PT), 4 rebounds and 3 assists

Allisha Gray 21 points (6-10 FG, 3-4 3PT), 3 rebounds and 4 assists

Indiana:

Aliyah Boston 25 points (12-22 FG), 10 rebounds and 2 assists

Kelsey Mitchell 20 points (6-11 FG, 2-4 3PT), 4 rebounds and 1 assist

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