Sky-Silver Stars Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Aug 13 2011 2:18PM

The Chicago Sky hung tough against the WNBA's best team their last time out before suffering a fourth loss in five games.

Things aren't about to get any easier with a road matchup against another of the league's better clubs.

The Sky hope to avoid a season worst-tying third consecutive defeat as they visit the San Antonio Silver Stars, who look for their momentum to carry over from their most recent victory Sunday.

Chicago (10-14), which opened the season 3-1, has since lost 13 of 20 and once again finds itself on the outside looking in at the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Sky are seeking their first postseason appearance in team history.

Chicago, though, looked like a playoff-caliber team against Minnesota on Friday, but a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter proved to be too much to overcome. Despite her team's solid effort in the 79-76 defeat, coach Pokey Chatman didn't consider the result a moral victory.

"That is not an option," Chatman said. "They are professional players, they know where we are in the season, and they know a 'W' is what counts. I don't think I have to worry about that at all. I'm in that locker room I know and see the disappointment and that says enough right there."

The Sky now face another tough test against Becky Hammon and San Antonio (13-9), which enters Sunday on a high note after prevailing 72-59 at Connecticut on Thursday. Hammon scored 15 of her 18 points in the first half, helping the Silver Stars take a 40-24 lead into the break.

"Getting out to a good start was so important for us," coach Dan Hughes said. "I thought it set a tone. Defensively, it was one of those games."

The Silver Stars return home following a stretch of four of five on the road. San Antonio lost the first three of those road contests to defending champion Seattle, the Lynx, and Eastern Conference-leading Indiana.

"We've been on the road so much and this last swing, we've played good teams," Hughes said. "Our goal is to be a winning road team and we're 7-5. We've got a shot."

San Antonio has also succeeded at home, where it's taken three of four. The Silver Stars, though, have struggled on the glass - they rank last in the league with 37.4 rebounds allowed per game.

Slowing down surging Chicago center Sylvia Fowles will surely be a priority.

Fowles, who ranks in the WNBA's top five with 19.8 points per game, scored 28 on Friday and grabbed 13 rebounds for her third straight double-double. While Fowles continues to roll, she'd like to see the rest of her team pick up the pace.

"We need to have to have a sense of urgency," said Fowles, averaging 10.7 boards over seven games since making her third career All-Star appearance last month. "We're not that good just yet to relax and take plays off and play as individuals. We have to play as a team."

Chicago, which has lost eight of nine on the road, is averaging 60.4 points - 13.8 less than its season mark - in its last five away from home.

Fowles helps Sky beat Silver Stars

Posted Aug 14 2011 6:20PM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) When Sylvia Fowles is on her game, there's few players in the WNBA who can stop her.

Fowles proved that by scoring 28 points and grabbing 17 rebounds to help the Chicago Sky beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 85-73 on Sunday.

``She did it early, she did it in the middle, she did it late,'' Sky coach Pokey Chatman said. ``When she couldn't do it, she snatched some boards.''

Fowles hit 12 of 16 shots from the field for Chicago (11-14), which won for only the second time in its last six games. The Silver Stars (13-10) have lost five of their last seven games.

Chicago led by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter before a San Antonio run cut the lead to eight points late.

Jia Perkins scored 18 points, Sophia Young had 16, Becky Hammon had 14 and Scholanda Robinson had 10 for San Antonio, which beat Chicago 84-74 on June 28.

Tamera Young scored 15 points for Chicago, and Michelle Snow had 11.

The Sky outrebounded the Silver Stars 45-20 and held the Silver Stars to 41.5 percent shooting from the field. The Sky jumped to an 18-point lead at halftime.

Robinson's 3-pointer with 2:10 left pulled the Silver Stars within 81-73, but Tamera Young responded with back-to-back layups as Chicago held on.

``This is the first year I can be myself,'' Fowles said. ``My first two years I got hurt, last year was an off year for me. But this season, I feel like I can broaden my horizons and get better.''

Fowles had 22 points and 12 rebounds by halftime, dominating the Silver Stars' centers. The 6-foot-6 star sent San Antonio starting center Ruth Riley to the bench with three fouls with 8:30 left, and backup Jayne Appel didn't fare any better.

The Silver Stars went to a zone late in the first half, but it didn't matter as the Sky's lead mushroomed to as many as 19 points. The Sky outrebounded the Silver Stars 28-8 in the half and held them to 29 percent shooting from the field.

``That's about as dominating a presence in the post that I have ever seen,'' Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said. ``And I've coached over 300 games.''

Reserves Perkins, Danielle Robinson and Appel started the second half for the Silver Stars, who pulled within 14 on Young's layup with 4:50 left. But, after a Dominique Canty jumper, Erin Thorn hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Chicago its biggest lead of the half at 22 with 3:19 left.

The Sky went up by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter, taking a 71-46 lead on Snow's layup with 8:56 left.

Fowles has now scored in double figures in 58 straight games. Sophia Young was the Silver Stars' leading rebounder with six. Fowles had that many rebounds on the offensive glass alone.

``She just had a monster game,'' Tamera Young said. ``We'd take jump shots and miss, and she'd just go in and clean up the boards, just going to work.''

• Sky: --
• Silver Stars: --

• Sky: --
• Silver Stars: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
• Officials: #38 Lamont Simpson, #39 Michael Price, #45 Tom Mauer
• Attendance: 7060
• Duration: 1:58