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Sun-Silver Stars Preview

Jul 16, 2009 - 4:52 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Connecticut (6-6) at San Antonio (6-6), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Not many teams have been outshot by the Connecticut Sun. Becky Hammon's absence may explain why the San Antonio Silver Stars were off target against them last month.

With their All-Star guard expected to be on the floor, the Silver Stars look for a better effort this time as they host the Sun on Friday night.

Connecticut (6-6) is shooting a WNBA-low 38.7 percent from the field, with no other team making worse than 40.0 percent of its shots. Though the Sun shot 39.0 percent (30 for 77) versus the Silver Stars (6-6) on June 21, they cruised to a 71-58 victory.

San Antonio was playing without Hammon and was held to 36.2 percent (21 for 58) shooting. The veteran guard was playing for Russia at a tournament in Latvia.

Hammon, averaging 19.2 points, 5.3 assists and 2.3 steals, was named a starter for the Western Conference All-Star team Tuesday.

The Silver Stars were also without Vickie Johnson because of a death in the family and Shanna Crossley, who has been out the past nine games after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her left knee. Crossley, perhaps San Antonio's best perimeter shooting threat, isn't expected back until at least next week.

Sophia Young's 20 points weren't enough to help the Silver Stars beat the Sun. She had 20 points and Hammon a game-high 21 as San Antonio beat Washington 79-78 on Wednesday after nearly blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead.

Young is averaging 17.5 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds. She'll be matched up at times inside with Connecticut forward Asjha Jones, who tops the team with 16.9 points and 5.9 rebounds a game.

Jones matched a season high with 24 points while adding five assists and four rebounds to lead the Sun to an 82-71 win over Los Angeles on Tuesday night. It was Connecticut's first win in three games.

Jones had a team-high 19 points in June's matchup with the Silver Stars. Her presence in the paint has become even more important with reserve Tamika Whitmore expected to miss about three weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right knee Tuesday.

Whitmore, averaging 6.6 points, was hurt in a 79-77 loss to Detroit on Saturday night, ending a streak of 204 consecutive games played.

With Whitmore out, Kerri Gardin is the top post player off the bench for the Sun. Gardin, in her second year, is averaging 4.1 rebounds.