Hayes leads balanced effort as Dream clip Wings

All five Atlanta starters scored in double figures, led by Tiffany Hayes’ 19 points, and the Dream rolled past the visiting Dallas Wings 98-78 Sunday at McCamish Pavilion.

Rookie guard Brittney Sykes added 18 points and Layshia Clarendon scored 16 points and handed out eight assists for the Dream, who avenged last week’s 10-point loss to the Wings in Dallas.

Sunday’s rematch was tight throughout the first half. Allisha Gray knocked down a 3-pointer that put the Wings in front 51-47 late in the second quarter. But the Dream scored the final six points of the half, capped by a layup from Sykes, and went into halftime leading 53-51.

Sykes reached double figures for the fourth straight game since being inserted into the starting lineup by Dream coach Michael Cooper.

Atlanta took control in the second half, opening the third quarter with a 19-5 spurt to build a 75-56 lead. The Dream held the Wings to 10 points in the third quarter and took a 78-61 lead into the fourth.

Dallas guard Skylar Diggins-Smith led all scorers with 22 points but couldn’t spark a fourth-quarter comeback. Gray added 15 points for the Wings, who went ice-cold in the second half, scoring just 27 points.

Bria Holmes and Elizabeth Williams each finished with 13 points for the Dream, who had 22 assists and only five turnovers.

Clarendon had her second straight big game for Atlanta. The veteran guard was coming off a career-high 27-point performance in Atlanta’s 89-68 win over Indiana on Friday. The Dream have now won three of four.

Atlanta heads out on a two-game trip out west, beginning at Phoenix on Wednesday. The Dream will also play at Seattle during the trip.

The Wings will look to bounce back at Chicago on Wednesday.