After a pair of tense games this week against their closest competition atop the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Shock's biggest challenge this weekend might be avoiding a letdown.

The Shock will try to stay perfect this season against teams with losing records when they visit the slumping Chicago Sky on Saturday.

Detroit remained in a tight race atop the East this week after splitting a home-and-home series with Connecticut.

The Shock (11-4) shot just 36.8 percent from the field and were outrebounded 42-32 in an 85-68 road loss on Tuesday, but bounced back with a 70-61 win over the Sun at home on Thursday.

After coach Bill Laimbeer stressed defense and rebounding before Thursday's game, Detroit allowed only seven points in the first quarter and outrebounded Connecticut 37-32.

"We were disappointed in ourselves on Tuesday - we just didn't do the things we were capable of doing," Shock guard Katie Smith said. "We know what we're capable of and we have to take care of our stuff and it starts with the little things."

With 10 points, Smith was one of five Detroit players who scored in double figures Thursday. But Plenette Pierson, who also scored 10 points, left the game with a strained knee and could miss Saturday's contest.

"I don't think it's really serious," Laimbeer told the team's official Web site. "You never know until you find out the next day, but I was told it was a strain."

With or without Pierson Saturday, Detroit will look to move to 8-0 against teams currently at or below .500. The Shock then return home on Sunday to face the Atlanta Dream - the only team behind Chicago (3-9) in the East.

The Sky's only two wins in their last 10 games came against expansion Atlanta, and they're in danger of losing six in a row for the first time since their 5-29 inaugural season in 2006.

Chicago is still playing without rookie center Sylvia Fowles, who injured her knee earlier this month. After experimenting with Tye'sha Fluker in the starting lineup, Chasity Melvin returned to the center spot Thursday in an 89-79 home loss to Phoenix.

Melvin had season highs with 19 points and 15 rebounds, but the Sky allowed at least 80 points for the fourth consecutive game. They had given up 80 just once in their first eight games.

"It wasn't the offense that gave them the advantage, it was our lapses in defense," Sky coach Steven Key said.

This is the first of three meetings between these teams this year. Chicago is 1-7 against Detroit all-time, including 0-4 at home.