Dream-Sky Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Jul 08 2011 2:01PM

The Atlanta Dream's attempt to return to the WNBA finals is off to a slow start. Having starting forward Sancho Lyttle out of the lineup for the last six games hasn't helped.

Lyttle, though, could end her absence when the Dream visit the Chicago Sky on Saturday night.

After winning an Eastern Conference title in its third year of existence, Atlanta appeared to be one of the favorites to end up at the top of the standings again this season. However, the Dream dropped seven of their first nine before topping New York 87-81 on June 30.

Erika de Souza tied a career high with 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds against the Liberty. Lindsey Harding added a season-best 25 points to help the Dream (3-7) avoid a third straight defeat.

"I thought it was a great team win. Just watching our players perform, I think we're getting that swagger back that we had in the past," coach Marynell Meadors said.

Meadors' team could get some more help with Lyttle expected to make her first appearance since leaving to play for the Spanish national team in an Olympic qualifying tournament.

The forward, who was averaging 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds before heading off to Europe, was reinstated to the roster Sunday.

Atlanta might need Lyttle's help against Sky center Sylvia Fowles, who's coming off her best scoring performance of the season.

Fowles had 34 points and 16 rebounds in a 78-65 win over Washington on Tuesday as the Sky snapped a three-game losing streak.

Fowles bounced back after averaging 14.0 points over her previous two games. Prior to that, she'd scored at least 20 in a team-record seven straight.

"I had to redeem myself," she said. "I wasn't playing the way I was capable of playing, and I felt like I was letting my teammates down."

Fowles had 21 points in Atlanta on June 21, but the Sky (5-6) scored only two over the final 2:57 en route to a 71-68 defeat.

Fowles averaged a team-best 19.4 points and 10.0 rebounds while helping Chicago take three of five matchups in last season's series with Atlanta. Iziane Castro Marques paced the Dream with 20.0 points per game, while Lyttle was averaged 10.2.

Chicago has won nine of 13 all-time matchups against Atlanta, including three of five at home.

Prince scores 24 to rally Sky past Dream

Posted Jul 09 2011 11:01PM

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) Epiphanny Prince scored 24 points, Courtney Vandersloot had 16 and the Chicago Sky rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat the Atlanta Dream 81-69 on Saturday night.

Michelle Snow added 13 points and Sylvia Fowles had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Sky (6-6), who were down 13 in the first half.

Angel McCoughtry scored 17 points to lead the Dream (3-8), including eight in the final period. Erika DeSouza added 14 points, Iziana Castro Marques had 12 and Armintie Price added 10 for Atlanta.

Chicago took its first lead, 54-53, on Erin Thorn's pull-up jumper with 9:40 left in the fourth quarter. The Sky held the lead until McCoughtry made two free throws to put the Dream ahead 63-62 with 5:06 to go.

However, Tamera Young's jumper 17 seconds later regained Chicago's lead and started a 9-0 run, and the Sky didn't trail again. Chicago made 10 consecutive free throws in the final 1:25 -- including eight from Prince -- to seal the win.

Price had all of her scoring in seven minutes in the first half, including a layup that gave Atlanta a 30-17 lead with 6:42 to go in the second quarter. The Dream, who had 18 fastbreak points in the first two quarters, led 39-31 at the break.

Fowles, limited to just two points in the first 20 minutes, hit two quick buckets as Chicago went on a 10-2 run to tie the score at 41-all with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter.

DeSouza had six points and McCoughtry made a basket over the next 3:29 to help Atlanta take a 52-45 lead. The Sky made another run to cut the deficit to 53-52 by quarter's end.

The Dream, who entered the game with the league's third-lowest shooting percentage (40 percent), were 28 of 72 (38.4 percent) on Saturday. After a poor start, Chicago improved to 28 of 62 (45.2 percent) and hit 22 of 29 free throws.

Atlanta forward Sancho Lyttle made the trip to Chicago, but sat out with a sore back She missed six games while playing with the Spanish national team in the Eurobasket Women 2011 tourney. Lyttle was averaging 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in four games.

• Dream: --
• Sky: --

• Dream: --
• Sky: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
• Officials: #55 Eric Brewton, #31 Amy Bonner, #46 Tim Greene
• Attendance: 5679
• Duration: 2:5