Sky-Lynx Preview

By ANDY LEFKOWITZ
Posted May 28 2010 2:13PM

The Chicago Sky finally were able to experience a victory their last time out. The Minnesota Lynx would like to enjoy that feeling again.

After snapping a season-opening four-game skid, Chicago will try to deal short-handed Minnesota its fifth straight loss Saturday night at the Target Center.

The Sky notched their first win of 2010 by surprising previously unbeaten Seattle 84-75 on Thursday. Sylvia Fowles scored 19 points and Catherine Kraayeveld had 12 of her 14 in the second half.

Chicago (1-4) also got plenty from its reserves as they combined for 34 points. Rookie Epiphanny Prince and Erin Thorn each chipped in with 13.

"That's the beauty of our team, we've got players that can come off the bench and give us a lot of spark," Fowles said. "They came out with a lot of energy and kept the lead up. You can't ask for more than that."

Despite the contributions from the bench, Fowles is Chicago's star. The 6-foot-6 center is shooting 60.4 percent from the floor and leading the club with 18.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game - all career highs.

Minnesota (1-4) saw its skid continue Thursday with a 105-79 loss to Connecticut. Charde Houston and Rashanda McCants led the Lynx with 16 points apiece, while Rebekkah Brunson had 14 in her season debut and Monica Wright added 11.

"We have to go back to basics," coach Cheryl Reeve said. "It's a long season. We still have 29 games left."

Brunson, formerly with now-defunct Sacramento, had been on Minnesota's suspended list due to overseas commitments.

A big reason for the Lynx's struggles is that they have been without guards Seimone Augustus and Candice Wiggins all season. Augustus is recovering from abdominal surgery and is several weeks away from returning, while Wiggins continues to work her way back from knee surgery last month.

In Chicago's last visit to the Target Center on June 6, the pair combined for 43 points as Minnesota opened the 2009 season with a 102-85 victory. Augustus didn't play in a 79-76 loss to Chicago in August due to a knee injury that ended her season after six games.

Chicago and Minnesota have split the season series each of the last three years, and five of the last six meetings have been decided by six points or less.

Sky wins second straight with 73-58 win over Lynx

Posted May 29 2010 10:08PM

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) Sylvia Fowles scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half and the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 73-58 on Saturday night.

Jia Perkins added 10 points for Chicago, which has won two straight after dropping its first four games. The Sky bench contributed 32 points.

Rashanda McCants and Charde Houston had 12 points for Minnesota, which has lost five straight since an 80-74 opening-night win in Tulsa. The Lynx hadn't scored fewer than 76 points in a game this season.

Trailing by 11 at halftime, Minnesota cut the deficit to 40-35 midway through the third quarter. But the hot-shooting Fowles scored seven of the game's next nine points as the Sky began to pull away. Fowles finished 6 of 7 from the field.

A free throw and basket by Nicky Anosike got the Lynx within 13 early in the fourth, but Epiphanny Price countered with a 3-pointer for Chicago to make it 58-42. A 3-point play by Fowles gave the Sky its biggest lead at 68-45.

Chicago shot 40.6 percent from the field, while Minnesota was 32.1 percent.

Fowles, the dominating 6-foot-6 center, picked up two quick first-quarter fouls and did not return until midway through the second quarter.

It didn't matter. Twelve of the team's first 15 points were in the paint, and Erin Thorn hit a 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer for an 18-10 lead.

Minnesota committed nine turnovers, was 2 for 10 from the field and 6 of 11 from the free-throw line in the quarter. The 10 points was a season-worst quarter for Minnesota, which also had a season-worst points in the half (25). Minnesota finished with 19 turnovers.

The Lynx continue to play without guards Seimone Augustus (abdominal surgery) and Candice Wiggins (arthroscopic right knee surgery), although Wiggins is questionable for Tuesday's game with Phoenix.

• Sky: --
• Lynx: --

• Sky: --
• Lynx: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Officials: #55 Eric Brewton, #35 Billy Smith, #58 Josh Tiven
• Attendance: 6129
• Duration: 1:54