Final - OT
Sky-Dream Preview
Jun 22, 2009 - 5:59 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior WriterChicago (3-3) at Atlanta (3-3), 12:00 p.m. EDT
The Chicago Sky's first win of the season came at the expense of the Atlanta Dream.
The Sky now hope a visit to Atlanta can help them notch their first road victory of the year.
Chicago looks to avoid opening the season with four straight road losses when it concludes a three-game trip Tuesday against the Dream.
After beginning the season with a 102-85 loss at Minnesota, the Sky (3-3) opened a three-game homestand with an 81-73 win over Atlanta (3-3) on June 12. Candice Dupree scored a game-high 23 points for Chicago, which shot 51.8 percent from the floor.
The Sky completed their perfect homestand with wins over Seattle and Connecticut, but have not enjoyed the same success since going back on the road.
Chicago's stingy defense was a chief reason for its success at home - limiting opponents to an average of 68.3 points - but has allowed an average of 91.3 points in its three road games.
The Sky, who opened this trip with a 91-61 defeat to the Sun, lost 81-72 at Washington on Saturday to drop to 4-20 on the road since the start of last season.
Against the Mystics, Chicago fell apart down the stretch on both ends of the court. The Sky led 62-58 with 9:13 remaining, but shot just 2 of 11 from the field while turning the ball over three times the rest of the way.
"We didn't take care of the ball very well and we didn't have very good offensive execution," said rookie guard Kristi Toliver, who finished with 13 points and a team-high four turnovers.
Jia Perkins, who is averaging a team-high 17.2 points, led the Sky with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. She had 17 points and eight assists earlier this month against Atlanta, which is now looking to bounce back from Sunday's 93-81 loss to New York.
The Dream displayed strong perimeter defense in winning their previous two games - holding Connecticut and Washington to 10-for-38 shooting from beyond the arc - but they allowed the Liberty to make 9 of 18 3-point attempts.
"I think we were playing back on our heels most of the game and didn't have the good defensive effort that we've had most of the season," Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors said. "We'll just have to get back to work to get ready for Chicago."
Shutting down the Sky won't be easy.
Chicago is shooting a league-best 46.7 percent from beyond the arc, and made 6 of 11 3-pointers in its first meeting of the season with the Dream.
Atlanta's Iziane Castro Marques, who scored a team-high 20 points against the Sky, finished with 14 versus the Liberty.
These teams won't play again until Aug. 8 in Atlanta - their final meeting of the season.
- WNBA
CHICAGO 99
ATLANTA 98 FINAL IN 1ST OT
Jun 23 2:35 PM - WNBA
CHICAGO 26
ATLANTA 21 END, 1ST QTR
Jun 23 12:32 PM
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