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Sky-Monarchs Preview

Jul 6, 2009 - 7:32 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Chicago (6-4) at Sacramento (2-8), 10:00 p.m. EDT

To make a serious run at their first playoff berth, the Chicago Sky might need to show some improvement on the road. Facing the WNBA-worst Sacramento Monarchs could help.

The surprising Sky continue their three-game road trip against the Monarchs on Tuesday night.

Chicago (6-4) is second in the Eastern Conference, two games back of first-place Indiana, thanks greatly to a 5-0 home record.

The Sky are 1-4 on the road, continuing a problem that has existed for the franchise since entering the WNBA in 2006. They've won 14 of their 56 road games all-time, with eight of those victories coming in 2007 before going 4-13 away from home last year.

The Sky's lone road win this season came on June 23, when Jia Perkins hit a jumper with 44.4 seconds left in overtime in a 99-98 victory over Atlanta. That win also started a three-game winning streak that was capped by a 74-72 victory over Sacramento (2-8) a week later.

Chicago failed to carry that momentum into San Antonio on Friday, falling 85-72 after getting outscored 29-12 in the opening quarter.

The Sky complete the road trip by facing the worst and best teams in the Western Conference, visiting first-place Phoenix on Wednesday after meeting the Monarchs.

Chicago has won once in three games at Sacramento and lost its most recent visit, 82-70 on June 22, 2008.

Perkins, the Sky's leader with 16.3 points per game, is coming off her worst performance of the season with seven points on 2 for 7 shooting Friday. That followed a 17-point performance against the Monarchs.

Sacramento became the last team in the league to post its second victory of the season Thursday, winning 74-68 at Minnesota to snap a six-game slide while concluding a 1-4 trip.

"We need wins and we need them desperately," Monarchs forward Nicole Powell said. "Hopefully we can build on this."

Powell has scored 21 points in each of the last two games, including last Tuesday's loss to the Sky. She's also totaled 15 rebounds over the last two games, and leads Sacramento with averages of 15.6 points and 5.5 boards.

The Monarchs are 1-2 at home after going 13-4 last year en route to their sixth consecutive playoff appearance.

"One of our greatest attributes is our perseverance," Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said. "Being able to respond well to adversity, challenges, staying in the moment and just fighting, fighting, fighting. That's hard to do when you've lost as many as we have already."

Sacramento's 38.3 percent shooting from the field ranks last in the league, while Chicago is second-best at 45.5.