ATLANTA - Erika DeSouza tied a career high with 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Lindsey Harding scored 25 points and the Atlanta Dream rallied for an 87-81 victory over the New York Liberty on Thursday night.

DeSouza's size and agility caused matchup problems for the Liberty, who were outscored 46-22 in the paint. She shot 11 for 16 from the field as the Dream (3-7) snapped a two-game skid.

Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points for New York (4-5), which couldn't hold a 10-point after Plenette Pierson hit an 18-footer with 3:40 left in the third quarter.

Atlanta went on a 14-3 run that ended with Armintie Price's runner in the final minute of the period for a 62-61 lead - the Dream's first since the game's early seconds.

DeSouza's two free throws with 5:11 left put Atlanta ahead 73-72 and it never trailed again. She hit a 17-footer from the right baseline for an 83-78 lead as the shot clock was expiring with 45.7 seconds remaining.

Essence Carson scored 12 points and Kia Vaughn 11 for the Liberty, who had won two straight.