Sun-Sky Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Jun 09 2011 2:18PM

Tina Charles set the WNBA record for the most rebounds in a season last year. She found it tougher to control the interior against Sylvia Fowles, however.

Two of the top centers in the league renew acquaintances Friday night when Charles and the Connecticut Sun visit Fowles and the Chicago Sky.

Charles set WNBA marks with 398 rebounds and 22 double-doubles to easily earn rookie of the year honors in 2010, averaging 15.5 points and 11.7 boards after being selected with the top overall pick by the Sun.

Those averages for the 6-foot-4 Charles dipped to 12.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in four meetings against Chicago (0-1) thanks to the menacing presence of the 6-6 Fowles, who averaged 16.3 points and 8.8 boards in those matchups.

Connecticut (1-0) and Chicago split their season series in 2010, but the Sun could have the edge this year thanks to Danielle McCray.

McCray suffered a knee injury during her senior season at Kansas and sat out her rookie year in 2010. She made her long-awaited debut Saturday off the bench in a season-opening 89-73 victory over Washington and made all five shots, including four 3-pointers, for 14 points.

"I can't really say I expected it, but I've been working hard," McCray said. "So, I couldn't say it wasn't going to happen. I've been staying after for shooting and working on my shot a lot."

Charles led all scorers with 18 points as Connecticut shot 57.1 percent overall, making 8 of 16 3-point attempts.

"I rarely got double teamed tonight," Charles said. "It happened maybe a couple of times. But the way Danielle was hitting and the way our guards penetrated, it really opened things up underneath."

Chicago had a far worse performance in its opener, never taking the lead in a 65-57 loss at Indiana on Saturday. Fowles was a non-factor with 10 points and seven rebounds, limited to five shots partly because of the Sky's 18 turnovers.

"Their pressure didn't necessarily turn us over, but we couldn't get the ball inside," first-year coach Pokey Chatman said. "We didn't make the right reads. I think they were a little bit tougher than us and we talked about that."

Epiphanny Prince scored 20 points to lead Chicago but shot 6 for 17. A bright spot was rookie Courtney Vandersloot, who had seven points and seven assists off the bench.

This is the Sky's home opener after they went 7-10 at Allstate Arena in 2010. The Sun went 5-12 on the road last season.

Fowles scores 23 to lead Sky past Sun, 78-75

Posted Jun 10 2011 11:07PM

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) Sylvia Fowles had 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Sky to a 78-75 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night.

Fowles scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a tiebreaking putback with 28 seconds left.

Rookie guard Courtney Vandersloot scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, to help the Sky (1-1) win their home opener. Michelle Snow had 12 points, Ephiphanny Prince added 11 and Cathrine Kraayeveld grabbed 11 rebounds.

Renee Montgomery scored 22 points and Asjha Jones added 20 for the Sun (1-1).

Chicago never trailed and led by as many as 13 points in the second half. Connecticut railed to force two ties, the last coming on Jones' jumper with 44 seconds left.

• Sun: --
• Sky: --

• Sun: --
• Sky: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
• Officials: #38 Lamont Simpson, #21 Byron Jarrett, #44 Felicia Grinter
• Attendance: 6609
• Duration: 1:58