Cold-shooting Lynx fall at Atlanta

ATLANTA – The Lynx's three-game winning streak is over. And the ending wasn't pretty.

The Atlanta Dream, the last-place team in the WNBA, soundly beat the Lynx 60-53 on Friday night at State Farm Arena, taking the lead from the start and never giving it up.

Sylvia Fowles had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Lynx for her 157th double-double, tying her with Lisa Leslie for the WNBA career record. But that was one of the few highlights for the Lynx (9-7), who had won five of their previous six games.

The 53 points the Lynx scored was a season low as was their 34.8% shooting from the field. Minnesota trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half but got within one point several times.

"It was one of our flatter games of the season," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. "Obviously, Atlanta wanted to beat us and return the favor from when they came to Minneapolis. [The Lynx won 85-68 on July 2.] We knew all those things and for whatever reason it happens, and you know as we tell them, we have to flush it."

Fowles' layup with 2:10 left in the third quarter got the Lynx within 45-44 and also gave her 10 points for her record-tying double-double. She also scored her 2,000th field goal in the game — she's one of 14 WNBA players to reach that milestone.

"It's very humbling," Fowles said when asked about tying Leslie's record. "It shows that my work has paid off in some form or fashion, and I'm excited to be amongst some of the best."

Elizabeth Williams led the Dream (5-10) with 17 points, and Alex Bentley had 10.

As poorly as the Lynx shot, the Dream was even colder, making only 33.8% from the field. But Atlanta still won because the Dream outrebounded the Lynx 45-39 and 15 of the rebounds came on offense. That's a season high for a Lynx opponent.

"Just incredibly proud," Dream coach Nicki Collen said. "I really think we would've blown them out if we would've made some open shots from the arc. We're so good when we touch the paint.

"As much as anything, I'm just proud how we defended. We just really dialed in to the game plan once again. When Danielle Robinson takes more shots [15] than Sylvia Fowles [11], we've done our job defensively."