Sky-Dream Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Jun 02 2012 12:49AM

The Atlanta Dream hope their leading scorer is healthy enough to help them build on their latest victory.

Star Angel McCoughtry expects to be in the lineup Saturday night when the Dream try to prevent the visiting Chicago Sky from a third consecutive victory.

After being held to a franchise-low 45 field goals and 34.7 percent shooting in a 78-62 home loss to Indiana on Sunday, Atlanta (2-2) bounced back Thursday to win 81-65 over a Phoenix team minus injured star Diana Taurasi.

The Dream prevailed despite McCoughtry being limited to 10 points in 18 minutes because of a knee injury.

"I thought we bounced back really well," coach Marynell Meadors said. "They took the challenge."

Among the WNBA leaders with 20.0 points per game, McCoughtry banged her knee with 8:07 remaining in the first half. With her knee wrapped, the 2011 all-WNBA first-team selection played sparingly in the second half.

"I didn't play her," Meadors said. "We were up. We've got a big, physical game coming up on Saturday, so if we don't need them, I'm going to rest them."

McCoughtry has averaged 23.0 points in Atlanta's last two games against Chicago, which lost three of four to the Dream in 2011.

If McCoughtry is unable to play or has her minutes limited, Meadors may again rely on her bench. Catherine Kraayeveld scored a team-high 12 points to help Atlanta's reserves outscore the Mercury's 37-10.

"We just needed to come out with the same intensity as the first team," said reserve guard Tiffany Hayes, who added eight points, four rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes.

Regardless of who is on the floor for the two-time reigning Eastern Conference champion Dream, they must find a way to contain Chicago star Sylvia Fowles.

Averaging 21.5 points and 12.5 rebounds, Fowles made a tiebreaking layup in the final seconds to give Chicago a 65-63 home win over Washington on Friday. Fowles finished with 19 points and a season-high 16 boards to help the Sky improve to 3-1 for the second straight season and third time in four years.

Thanks to Fowles, Chicago has a chance to start 4-1 for the first time in the seven-year history of a franchise that has never reached the playoffs.

"Sylvia is a special player, because she can be disruptive on both ends of the floor," coach and general manager Pokey Chatman told the Sky's official website. "She's had a great start, and I'd like to see her continue to be this dominant throughout the season."

The Eastern Conference player of the month for May, Fowles has averaged 20.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in the last two meetings with Atlanta.

Teammate Epiphanny Prince scored 13 of her career-high 31 points in the final 1:44 to help the Sky rally from a late eight-point deficit Friday. The second-year guard also is averaging 21.5 points this season.

Prince takes charge in Sky's win over Atlanta

By GEORGE HENRY
Posted Jun 02 2012 10:57PM

ATLANTA (AP) With time running out, Epiphanny Prince just wanted to get a good look at the basket from outside the 3-point line.

Prince dribbled through the Atlanta defense and found just enough space to send the game to overtime.

``I just don't like to lose and as long as there is time on the clock, we know we have a chance to win,'' she said. ``I'm just not afraid to take those shots. If I miss, I miss, but if I don't take them, then I would never know.''

Prince hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation and scored eight of her career-high 33 points in overtime to help the Chicago Sky rally for a 94-92 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday night.

Angel McCoughtry went 17 of 17 from the free-throw line and finished with a season-high 33 points for Atlanta.

The Sky, who trailed by 22 in the first quarter and led by 10 early in the fourth, have won three straight.

Atlanta has lost two of three. The Dream were outrebounded 48-23.

Sylvia Fowles added 20 points with 19 rebounds for the Sky, who overcame 26 turnovers that resulted in 25 Atlanta points.

Fowles' three-point play with 3:38 left in the third gave Chicago its first lead since early in the first.

She credited the Sky with playing better defense and cutting down on turnovers to erase the early deficit.

``It's what Atlanta does,'' Fowles said. ``They get after you and they pressure you full-court and they make you have turnovers. We were just trying to adjust ourselves and get in the flow after that.''

Prince, who scored all of Chicago's points in overtime on two 3s and a 17-footer, set her previous career high of 31 points in Friday's two-point home win over Washington.

Fowles has finished with a double-double in each of Chicago's five games.

The Sky led 69-59 on Prince's 3-pointer at the 7:36 mark of the fourth, but McCoughtry, who played a game-high 43 minutes with a wrap on her left knee, hit a pair of free throws to put Atlanta up 83-78 with 31.4 seconds left in regulation.

The Dream was ahead 86-83 after Ketia Swanier's two free throws at the 6-second mark, but Swanier and her teammates allowed Prince to weave through its defense and hit a 3 from the right wing to send the game to overtime.

``We let Epiphanny get some shots off,'' Swanier said. ``I know I had a bone-headed defensive play when she got her first 3 off (early in the fourth quarter), and that kind of got her going. But we can learn from it and get ready for New York on Tuesday.''

Lindsey Harding added 16 points and Armintie Price had 14 for the Dream.

Swin Cash and Sonja Petrovic each scored 10 for Chicago.

Atlanta led by 22 at the 1:58 mark of the first quarter after McCoughtry's steal and ensuing layup, but the Sky went on a 28-8 run to pull within two at 37-35 on Prince's 17-footer.

McCoughtry was injured in the second quarter of Thursday's 17-point home win over Phoenix, scoring 10 points in just 18 minutes.

``I don't think we contained her,'' Fowles said. ``I think we slowed her down a little bit. Angel is a great player. She likes to throw her body into you, and everybody knows her game, but you just have to be poised because you're not going to stop her.''

The Sky had dropped three of four to the Dream, who struggled all night on the boards and may need to wait until the second half of the season for reinforcements. Atlanta's starting center, Erika de Souza is working with the Brazilian Olympic team and will return to the Dream after the Summer Games in London.

``We have so many inexperienced post players right now that it's really tough on them,'' Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors said. ``They play hard, but just didn't rebound.''

With Chicago controlling the boards, Prince gave the Sky complemented their offense with steady shooting late in the game.

``Late in the game, I thought Epiphanny was clutch, coming off a (Friday night) game and getting off to a slow start (Saturday). It was nice to see someone step in there,'' Chicago coach Pokey Chatman said.

• Sky: --
• Dream: --

• Sky: Young
• Dream: Koehn

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #13 Cameron Inouye, #11 Lauren Holtkamp, #53 Jeff Smith
• Attendance: 4503
• Duration: 2:33