Shock-Sky Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Jul 12 2011 3:58PM

Sylvia Fowles has appeared a little tentative on the offensive end for the Chicago Sky of late. A matchup with the defensively inept Tulsa Shock could allow her to regain her scoring prowess.

Fowles looks to help the Sky bounce back Wednesday night following a disheartening loss as they face a Shock team coming off another one-sided defeat.

Fowles leads the WNBA with 20.4 points per game, but has scored 16 or fewer in four of her last five. She shot 57.6 percent in those four games but has seemingly taken a smaller role in the offense, attempting fewer than 10 shots in each contest.

That's strikingly different than in her previous seven games, when Fowles reached the 21-point mark each time and attempted at least 16 shots six times.

The 6-foot-6 center managed 14 points against New York on Sunday - only two of which came in the fourth quarter, which cost her team dearly.

The Sky (6-7) led by 11 at the half, six at the start of the fourth and three with 1:36 to go. The Liberty closed the game on a 10-0 run, however, sending Chicago to an 80-73 loss - its sixth in nine contests.

"We blew good opportunities,'' Fowles said. "We can't blow leads. You have to put your foot down and keep it going. Minor mistakes we can't let happen, so learn from this and keep pushing forward and get ready for the next one.''

Fowles and Chicago could have better luck against lowly Tulsa, which is allowing an average of 86.7 points. The Shock start a rookie center in Liz Cambage, who is among the league leaders in fouls per game with 3.7.

Fowles averaged 24.0 points and 69.2 percent shooting in two games against Tulsa last season. The teams split the series with each winning at home.

The Shock (1-11) arrive in Chicago after a 102-63 loss to Phoenix on Sunday, their most lopsided defeat of the season.

Teresa Edwards made her debut as interim coach but the result looked like so many of the team's games under Nolan Richardson, who resigned after Friday's loss to the Mercury. The Shock fell behind 26-5 just over six minutes in and trailed by 32 at halftime in suffering their third defeat by at least 30 points.

"It's tough, but you can't use that as an excuse,'' said Edwards, who was the team's director of player personnel. "I really thought we made a stepping stone just trying to adjust and come in here and making a few adjustments and carrying it over to the game.''

Tiffany Jackson had a team-best 19 points while Cambage added 15 for Tulsa, which has been outscored by an average of 18.0 points in losing its six road games.

The Sky have won their last two home games by double digits and are 5-2 at Allstate Arena.

Shock 54, Sky 72

Posted Jul 13 2011 3:16PM

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) WNBA scoring leader Sylvia Fowles had 21 points, and the Chicago Sky beat Tulsa 72-54 on Wednesday.

Fowles, now averaging 20.4 points per game, added 13 rebounds in front of a franchise record crowd announced at 13,838 at Allstate Arena.

The loss was the seventh straight for the Shock (1-12) and second for interim coach Teresa Edwards, who took over July 9 after Nolan Richardson's resignation.

Chicago (7-7) opened with eight straight points and never trailed on the way to a 21-9 first-quarter lead.

Jennifer Lacy had 13 points off the bench while Andrea Riley added 12 for the Shock. Epiphanny Prince had 11 and reserve Tamera Young added 10 for the Sky.

Fowles gave the Sky their biggest first-half lead at 39-20 with 3:13 left. The Shock then went on a 9-2 run to cut into the margin by halftime. In the third quarter, they pulled within 47-42 on Lacy's fast-break layup but got no closer.

The Shock shot 30.4 percent from the field and had 24 turnovers.

Fowles now has 35 double-digit rebounding games for her career. She's third in the WNBA with a 9.7 average.

Tulsa last won June 18 with an 82-77 victory over Washington.

• Shock: --
• Sky: --

• Shock: --
• Sky: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
• Officials: #38 Lamont Simpson, #28 Angelica Suffren, #40 Janetta Graham
• Attendance: 13838
• Duration: 1:51