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Sky wins second straight with 73-58 win over Lynx

May 30, 2010 - 3:00 AM MINNEAPOLIS(AP) -- Sylvia Fowles scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half and the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 73-58 on Saturday night.

Jia Perkins added 10 points for Chicago, which has won two straight after dropping its first four games. The Sky bench contributed 32 points.

"We're still trying to gel and we're just trying to learn from each other as we go along," Fowles said.

Rashanda McCants and Charde Houston had 12 points for Minnesota, which has lost five straight since an 80-74 opening-night win in Tulsa. The Lynx hadn't scored fewer than 76 points in a game this season.

Trailing by 11 at halftime, Minnesota cut the deficit to 40-35 midway through the third quarter. But the hot-shooting Fowles scored seven of the game's next nine points as the Sky began to pull away. Fowles finished 6 of 7 from the field.

A free throw and basket by Nicky Anosike got the Lynx within 13 early in the fourth, but Epiphanny Price countered with a 3-pointer for Chicago to make it 58-42. A 3-point play by Fowles gave the Sky its biggest lead at 68-45.

"I hate sitting on the bench, and then my competitive side kicked in," Fowles said. "My teammates needed me and I needed to step up. I went out there and did what I was capable of doing."

Fowles, the 6-foot-6 center, picked up two quick first-quarter fouls and did not return until midway through the second quarter.

It didn't matter. Twelve of the team's first 15 points were in the paint, and Erin Thorn hit a 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer for an 18-10 lead.

"A lot of teams are only playing seven, eight players, but we can go 10 or 11," said Thorn, who scored five points. "It's a huge advantage because we don't get tired or in foul trouble as much."

Minnesota committed nine turnovers, was 2 for 10 from the field and 6 of 11 from the free throw line in the first quarter. The 10 points was a season-low quarter for Minnesota, which also had a season-worst points in the half (25) and shooting percentage for a game (32.1). Minnesota finished with 19 turnovers.

"In our locker room there's no finger-pointing," said coach Cheryl Reeve. "They know this is a good team, and they believe in themselves. The only answer is to keep playing."

The Lynx continue to play without guards Seimone Augustus (abdominal surgery) and Candice Wiggins (arthroscopic right knee surgery), although Wiggins is questionable for Tuesday's game with Phoenix.

"I keep hearing she's close, but close seems so far off to me," Reeve said.