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After struggling to secure victories in the last few weeks, the Chicago Sky finally seem to be finding some success.
The Sky will try to match a franchise-record three-game winning streak by taking advantage of the slumping Indiana Fever as the teams meet at Conseco Fieldhouse on Wednesday.
Chicago (5-9) endured a season-high five-game losing streak from June 13-26, but halted the skid by stunning Detroit 76-59 on Saturday and following it up with a 73-71 triumph at Minnesota on Tuesday.
Jia Perkins drained a tiebreaking 3-pointer - her fifth of the night - with 1:22 left and finished with 20 points, while Candice Dupree added 26 and 10 rebounds for the Sky.
Chicago also improved to 4-5 without 6-foot-6 rookie center Sylvia Fowles, who has been sidelined by a sprained knee. But her replacement Chasity Melvin contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds on Tuesday to help the Sky win back-to-back contests for the second time this season.
"It takes a little bit of time to make an adjustment because Sylvia is such a presence there," Sky coach Steve Key said. "Although we only had her five games, they had to make the adjustment and so did we. But the biggest thing is, about a week-and-a-half ago, I told them there are no new plays, nothing coming from me. They have to take ownership of it.
"I think they are starting to realize it's them, not me."
A third-year franchise, the Sky hope to continue this surge and match the team-record three-game winning streak established last July 21-26. To equal that mark, they must end their struggles against the Fever - winners of six of the eight all-time matchups.
The Fever (7-8) went 3-1 versus the Sky last season, with each of the last three meetings decided by five points or fewer, including a 75-70 overtime victory in Chicago on Aug. 7 in the teams' most recent contest.
But Indiana has lost four of its last five overall, and its road losing streak reached four games after a 75-61 loss Saturday at Houston.
Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 13 points, while Tamika Catchings added 10 for the Fever, whose 26 turnovers resulted in 29 points.
They were also plagued by shooting troubles. Guard Katie Douglas, who is averaging a team-high 16.7 points, was held to eight on 3-for-8 shooting, and the Fever shot just 40.0 percent (20-for-50).
Indiana, which last dropped three straight during a six-game slide from July 20-29, plays five of its next six at Conseco Fieldhouse, where it is 5-2. The Fever have also won three of four all-time home meetings with the Sky.
Sutton-Brown scored 11.5 points per game versus the Sky last season, while Douglas averaged 14.0 against Chicago with Connecticut.