Sparks fall when Atlanta outscores them in the fourth quarter

Allisha Gray scored 25 points, Tina Charles had a double-double and the Atlanta Dream pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat 87-74 on Sunday.

Gray made nine of 14 shots from the floor, including three of five three-pointers, for the Dream (6-6). She added three steals to help Atlanta end a two-game skid. Charles finished with 20 points – also on nine-of-14 shooting – and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

Rickea Jackson and rookie Cameron Brink led the Sparks (4-10) with 16 points each. Brink, the second pick in this year’s draft out of Stanford, added seven rebounds. Dearica Hamby was limited to 10 points and eight rebounds, well below her season averages. Reserve Aari McDonald finished with 14 points and five assists.

Charles and Gray scored six points each to help Atlanta take a 20-14 lead after one quarter.

Jackson made a three-point play in the first minute of the second quarter to bring the Sparks within three. Gray made a three-pointer, Charles followed with a layup and Atlanta took its largest lead at 43-32 with 71 seconds left before halftime.

Brink responded with a three-pointer, Kia Nurse made two free throws and McDonald hit from beyond the arc to cap an 8-0 run, bringing the Sparks within 45-40 at halftime. Brink led all scorers with 14 points in the first half.

Charles made one of two foul shots to give the Dream a 55-46 advantage with 5:03 left in the third quarter. Hamby scored on a rebound and added two free throws after a Jackson basket, starting a 15-1 run to give the Sparks a 61-56 lead just over three minutes later. Gray hit a step-back jumper and Naz Hillmon added two foul shots to bring Atlanta within 61-60 after three quarters.

Atlanta took a 67-66 lead on a Howard three-pointer with 6:55 left. Gray sandwiched a layup and three-pointer around a Powers basket for an eight-point lead and the Dream remained unthreatened down the stretch.

Rhyne Howard scored 16 points and five assists for Atlanta, but she made just four of 15 from the field and one of seven from beyond the arc. Aerial Powers added 13 points, six rebounds and three assists coming off the bench.

Atlanta beat visiting Los Angeles 92-81 to start the season.

The Sparks, in the middle of a seven-game road trip, head north to face the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday. Atlanta hits the road to face the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday.