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Sun-Shock Preview

Jul 4, 2009 - 5:00 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Connecticut (4-4) at Detroit (2-6), 6:00 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Shock finally got their first win under new coach Rick Mahorn but followed it with a defeat that dropped them into last place in the Eastern Conference.

If history is any indication, returning home to meet the Connecticut Sun should help the defending league champions get out of the cellar.

The Shock go for their ninth straight home win over the Sun as the clubs square off Sunday night in the first of two meetings in a week.

Detroit (2-6) shot a season-best 51.6 percent from the field and matched a season-high point total in an 86-72 win over Sacramento last Sunday. It was the Shock's first victory in four games since Mahorn took over for Bill Laimbeer, who suddenly resigned after leading the club to three titles in six seasons at the helm.

Detroit, however, couldn't build on that victory Thursday night, falling 80-64 at New York. In the second quarter, the Shock went 2 for 12 from the field and committed 10 turnovers while getting outscored 22-8.

"We had 14 turnovers in the first half and they had six, and we couldn't score off their turnovers but they scored off our turnovers," Mahorn said. "In the second half we competed, just didn't get a good chance and a good break."

Detroit fell a half-game behind New York at the bottom of the conference standings and remained winless against East opponents. The Shock, though, appear to stand a good chance of fixing both problems with a home game against the Sun (4-4).

Since the start of the 2005 season, Detroit is 8-0 against Connecticut at The Palace of Auburn Hills, including a victory in the 2006 conference finals. Shock guard Deanna Nolan averaged 14.5 points and 6.0 assists while going 12 for 19 from the field (63.2 percent) in two home wins over the Sun in 2008.

Connecticut had a three-game winning streak snapped in its last game Thursday, shooting 31.7 percent from the field and recording a season-low point total in a 67-53 loss at Indiana. The Sun had scored 81.3 points per game during their winning streak.

"We didn't have the ball reversal that we normally get and couldn't get back into an offense," said forward Asjha Jones after being held to 10 points, nearly six below her season average.

Jones averaged 17.5 points in the Sun's two losses at Detroit last season.

These teams play again Saturday in Connecticut.