Sky-Sun Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Aug 25 2012 2:11PM

Making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history looked like a realistic possibility for the Chicago Sky earlier this season, but they could soon find themselves out of contention if their recent woes continue.

A home-and-home set against the Eastern Conference-leading Connecticut Sun isn't likely to help their cause.

The Sky try to avoid a 10th consecutive loss Sunday when they visit the Sun, winners of seven of eight.

After jumping out to a 7-1 start thanks in part to superb play from Epiphanny Prince, Chicago (8-14) saw its season take a turn for the worse June 16 when she broke her foot during an 84-70 defeat at Indiana. While the Sky lost seven of eight during Prince's absence, her return to the court following the Olympic break hasn't made much difference.

Averaging 24.3 points in eight games before her injury, Prince has scored 11.0 per game on 32.0 percent shooting in five contests this month. She came off the bench for the first time this season Friday, scoring 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting during an 81-78 overtime loss at Tulsa. The Sky led by 11 in the fourth quarter before falling apart.

Courtney Vandersloot had a career-best 23 points off the bench while Shay Murphy scored 17 and added 10 rebounds for the Sky, who've suffered six losses by six points or fewer - four in OT - during their nine-game skid.

Chicago's longest slide since it lost 13 straight during its inaugural season in 2006 has dropped the club outside of playoff position in the East.

One of those deflating defeats came against the Sun (17-5) on July 13. Connecticut rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit before pulling out an 80-78 overtime victory on Allison Hightower's layup with 8.9 seconds left in the extra period.

The Sun are coming off another dramatic win, beating the Shock 82-80 in overtime Tuesday. Kara Lawson played the role of hero this time around, making a go-ahead 3-pointer with 11.8 seconds left in OT.

"Kara doesn't have any fear," coach Mike Thibault said of Lawson, who signed a three-year extension last weekend. "Great players want to take big shots."

Lawson finished with 19 points and matched a season best with five 3s. In contrast, she was limited to eight points on 2-of-10 shooting versus Chicago last month.

The Sky, 2-13 when their opponent scores at least 70 points, could have trouble slowing down a Sun team averaging 82.2. These teams meet again Tuesday at Chicago.

Sky beat Sun to snap 9-game losing streak

Posted Aug 26 2012 8:32PM

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Epiphanny Prince scored 15 points and the short-handed Chicago Sky snapped a nine-game losing streak with an 82-70 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.

Olympic center Sylvia Fowles and forward Tamera Young missed the game because of personal reasons. Sky coach Pokey Chatman said Young had a death in the family.

``I have been on the other side when the other team is down, but you have those players that (have) positive energy and always ready for their opportunity,'' Chatman said. ``It was nice to see everyone step up, and we needed every single player out there since we were short-handed. So, yes it was a good win against the best team in the East.''

Reserve center Carolyn Swords started in Fowles' absence and had a career-high 14 points and added six rebounds for the Sky (9-14).

``We see (Swords) do that every day in practice, she goes against Sylvia every day, so there is no intimidation factor,'' Chatman said. ``She uses her size well and she is going to be in the right spot.''

Swin Cash had 14 points and six rebounds, and Courtney Vandersloot added 11 assists and four steals.

``This is huge,'' Cash said. ``We have been on a skid that none of us are familiar with, and today we were down Syl and down Tamera, and I thought that everyone came in and contributed.''

Allison Hightower had 17 points and five assists for the Eastern Conference-leading Sun (17-6). Connecticut played its fifth straight game without Olympic forward Asjha Jones, sidelined by a strained left Achilles tendon.

Kara Lawson had 16 points and six assists for Connecticut, and Tina Charles added 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

``We were just not sound defensively,'' Lawson said. ``We made so many defensive mistakes. Sometimes you'll have one defensive mistake on a play. We were having three or four on the same possession. We need to improve. We need to get a lot better defensively.''

The Sun could have clinched a playoff berth with a win and a New York Liberty loss Sunday night at the Seattle Storm.

``It's a disappointing loss for a lot of reasons,'' Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. ``We had a chance, with a little help, to clinch a playoff spot and we didn't do it. We just got outplayed in a lot of areas - outrebounded, our turnovers led to points. We shot the ball poorly for stretches, particularly in the second half. They out-hustled us for loose balls.''

Chicago outhustled and outplayed the Sun. Chicago made 10 3-pointers and shot 46.5-percent from the field. The Sky also had a 38-26 rebounding advantage.

Chicago trailed 50-41 with over 6 minutes left in the third quarter, then closed the period with a 20-5 run.

Cash made a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to four points late in the quarter. Le'Coe Willingham followed with a turnaround bank shot and a wide-open 3-pointer to put Chicago ahead.

A turnover led to Cash's layup. She closed the quarter with a wide-open 3-pointer from the top to give the Sky a 61-55 lead they never relinquished.

• Sky: --
• Sun: --

• Sky: --
• Sun: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• Officials: #39 Michael Price, #28 Angelica Suffren, #24 Tony Dawkins
• Attendance: 8390
• Duration: 1:42