Nolan scores 25 points, Braxton adds 16 as Shock rally to beat Dream 94-89 in playoff opener

Associated Press

Last update: September 16, 2009 - 9:45 PM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Deanna Nolan scored 25 points and Kara Braxton added 16 as the Detroit Shock rallied for a 94-89 victory over the Atlanta Dream in the opener of Eastern Conference first-round series Wednesday night.

The defending champions trailed by 13 points midway through the third quarter, but dominated the final 15 minutes to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Shavonte Zellous scored eight points as Detroit put together a 17-0 run to finish the third and take a 65-61 lead. The lead grew to 10 with 4 minutes left in the fourth.

Iziane Castro-Marques led Atlanta with 25 points and Angel McCoughtry added 21.

Erika DeSouza's three-point play pulled Atlanta to 89-85 with 1:40 left, and after a Detroit miss, McCoughtry's running hook made it a two-point game.

Nolan split a pair of free throws after a hard foul by Sancho Lyttle, but Cheryl Ford committed two fouls in a five-second span. Atlanta made two of four free throws to narrow the gap to 90-89.

Atlanta fouled Nolan with 16.2 seconds to go. Nolan, though, appeared to be woozy from the collision with Lyttle and had to leave the game. That let Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors pick who would shoot the free throws, and she selected Crystal Kelly, who hadn't played since midway through the second quarter.

However, Kelly hit both shots to put Detroit ahead 92-89. Castro-Marques missed a tying 3-pointer and Nikki Teasley sealed the win from the line.

The Dream led 30-16 after the first quarter, and 45-36 at the half, controlling the game until Detroit's big third-quarter run.

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