Harding, Dream beat slumping Fever, 84-74

ATLANTA (AP) — Lindsey Harding scored 19 points to lead the Atlanta Dream past Indiana 84-74 on Tuesday.

Atlanta, the defending Eastern Conference champion, has won two straight but is fifth in the conference, four games behind the Fever.

Tamika Catchings had 22 points and Erin Phillips had 21 for Indiana, which has lost three straight for the first time this season.

Erika de Souza had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta. All-Star Angel McCoughtry, slowed by foul trouble, managed to score 15 points in only 19 minutes.

Atlanta also was without forward Sancho Lyttle (sore back) and guard Coco Miller (sprained right ankle) and had only nine players in uniform for the second straight game.

Despite the thin bench, Atlanta led 44-36 at halftime.