Fever-Sky Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jun 26 2012 5:13PM

The Chicago Sky haven't been the same since losing Epiphanny Prince to injury against the Indiana Fever a week and a half ago.

Coming off back-to-back losses for the first time, Chicago looks to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat to the Fever on Wednesday.

The Sky (7-3) won seven of their first eight games thanks in large part to Prince, whose average of 22.3 points ranks second in the league. She looked poised for another monster game June 16 against the Fever, scoring seven points in the first eight minutes, before fracturing her right foot.

Chicago led by eight points after the first quarter but was outscored 64-42 the rest of the way in an 84-70 loss.

The Sky also had a rough time in their only game since that one, falling 79-67 at league-best Minnesota on Saturday. While Sylvia Fowles posted 22 points and 13 rebounds for her ninth double-double in 10 games, Prince - one of the league's best 3-point shooters at 53.7 percent - was clearly missed.

The Sky made 3 of 16 (18.8 percent) from beyond the arc.

"Piph made it easier for us because she was knocking down shots from the outside, so it made a threat from the inside presence to the outside," Fowles said of Prince, expected to miss at least another month. "Everybody's just got to step up. Things happen like that. ... You still have to step up and play your game."

Besides being more efficient effort from 3-point range, the Sky know they need to take better care of the basketball. Chicago committed 24 turnovers against the Lynx and is averaging a league-worst 20.2.

"We have to go out there and really lock in and focus on not being so turnover prone," said Swin Cash, who had five turnovers Saturday.

Though the Fever (7-5) have had the Sky's number of late, another unusual start time - 11:30 a.m. central time - could fluster them again. Indiana tipped off in Atlanta at 12 p.m. eastern Tuesday and was outscored 25-8 in the second quarter of a 70-58 loss.

"It was noon, and we didn't come with the energy and focus you need to play," said Katie Douglas, who finished with eight points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Not one player scored in double figures for Indiana, which shot 30.6 percent from the floor and was outrebounded 41-29.

"We need work on having other players get hot and if our shots aren't falling, we've got to do a better job defensively, with transition, rebounds, taking care of the ball," Douglas added. "If the offense isn't flowing, we've got to find a way to improve on other areas of the game."

Douglas has averaged 17.7 points during Indiana's three-game win streak in this series, including 21 in an 83-72 victory in Chicago's home opener May 25.

The Sky have since won all three of their home games.

Zellous leads Fever to 81-72 win over Sky

Posted Jun 27 2012 3:43PM

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) Shavonte Zellous led a balanced offense with a season-high 18 points for the Indiana Fever, who defeated the Chicago Sky 81-72 on Wednesday.

Tamika Catchings had 17 points and a season-high nine assists, Jeanette Pohlen had 14 off the bench and Tammy Sutton-Brown added 10 for the Fever (8-5), winners of three of their last four games.

Sylvia Fowles had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Swin Cash scored 17 and Tamera Young added 15 for the Sky (7-4), who dropped their third straight after a franchise record 7-1 start.

Zellous was 7 for 8 from the field, making all three of her 3-pointers.

Indiana improved a four-point halftime lead to double digits with a 12-3 run over the first 3:29 of the third period, which included a pair of 3s by Zellous. Indiana's lead never slipped below eight points after that.

The Fever have beaten the Sky four straight during the last two seasons and lead 22-5 all-time. Indiana made 11 of 19 3-point shots and finished at 45 percent overall from the field.

Catchings struggled offensively for the second straight game, hitting just 2 of 9 shots but making all eight free-throw attempts. On Tuesday, she was 3 of 15 from the field in a loss at Atlanta.

Catchings had five points and four assists while Zellous added five points in the opening quarter as Indiana opened a 22-12 lead.

In the second quarter, the Fever went nearly six minutes without a field goal, but compensated with 7 of 9 free throws plus a late 3 pointers from Catchings and Pohlen en route to a 37-33 halftime lead.

Indiana used its strong third quarter to enter the fourth with a 63-50 advantage.

Chicago outrebounded its opponents 46-35, but the Sky turned the ball over 15 times (on 12 Fever steals) compared to 10 for Indiana.

Chicago hosts Phoenix on Friday and Atlanta on Sunday. Indiana is idle until July 5 at home against San Antonio.

• Fever: --
• Sky: --

• Fever: --
• Sky: --

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
• Officials: #4 Sue Blauch, #25 Marcus Clayton, #53 Jeff Smith
• Attendance: 6312
• Duration: 1:54