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By NOEY KUPCHAN
(AP) -- Angel McCoughtry didn't miss a beat despite coming off the bench during the Atlanta Dream's last game.
While it's unknown if McCoughtry will return to the starting lineup Sunday afternoon, the Dream will surely need another big game from their All-Star guard against the high-scoring Connecticut Sun.
Second in the league with 22.7 points per game, McCoughtry was held out of the starting lineup for the first time this season Friday for apparently breaking an unspecified team rule. While her situation created a stir, McCoughtry didn't seem to be bothered and finished with 31 points on 11 of 18 shooting during a 92-59 rout of Los Angeles.
"I didn't violate a team rule. I don't violate team rules ... I'm a good person. I'm a great leader and I'm going to do everything I can for this team," said McCoughtry, who expects to start this game.
Atlanta (4-5) outscored the Sparks 28-12 in the first quarter and limited them to just 28.6 percent shooting.
"When we came out (Friday), we just jelled really well," McCoughtry added. "Before, it was kind of early. It's a new team. We've been trying to find our chemistry, and tonight kind of broke the ice."
Averaging a league-high 86.4 points, Connecticut (7-2) is coming off an impressive effort of its own, blowing out New York 97-55 on Friday for its most lopsided victory in franchise history.
With 20 points, Tina Charles was one of six players to score in double figures for the Sun, who two nights earlier let a late lead slip away in an 87-81 loss to Los Angeles
"If you look at our record and see our two losses, we think we could've been undefeated," forward Kalana Greene said. "It kind of ticks us off. ... The beauty of this part of the season is you play games almost every day. You have a short-term memory and you get to kind of let off your energy and frustration on the next team."
Connecticut, which suffered a two-game sweep at the hands of Atlanta during last season's conference semifinals, exacted a bit of revenge last Sunday with a 92-73 win over the Dream. Charles posted 22 points and 11 rebounds to become the fastest player in league history to record 50 career double-doubles, doing so in just 75 games.
The Sun shot 61.7 percent (37 of 60) from the floor - the second-best effort in franchise history - in that game and were able to slow down McCoughtry, who scored 23 points but made just 7 of 24 shots.
Atlanta has taken seven straight from Connecticut on its own floor, including the postseason. The Sun are 2-0 on the road and have won all six matchups versus Eastern Conference foes.
Updated June 16, 2012
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