Final
Sky-Dream Preview
Aug 7, 2009 - 4:21 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior WriterChicago (10-11) at Atlanta (11-10), 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Atlanta Dream look to extend their franchise-record winning streak to five games Saturday night when they try to avoid a season sweep by the Chicago Sky.
Atlanta (11-10) is opening a season-high six-game homestand that will go a long way toward determining whether the second-year franchise will reach its first postseason. The Dream are averaging 96.3 points during their four-game run.
They placed five players in double figures in Thursday's 92-84 win at San Antonio. Chamique Holdsclaw scored 10 of her 21 points in a 31-point fourth quarter that helped Atlanta pull away.
"We're definitely establishing our identity," Holdsclaw said. "We kicked it in (during the 31-point fourth quarter). We've got a flow going right now. We're just trying to stick to it."
Atlanta moved above .500 for the first time since it was 3-2 on June 19, and holds one of the four playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
The Dream are one game ahead of the Sky (10-11), who have already clinched the tiebreaker by winning the first two meetings this year.
Chicago has used big performances from All-Stars Candice Dupree and Jia Perkins to beat Atlanta this year. Dupree is averaging 21.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in the two games while Perkins is averaging 19.5 points and 7.0 assists.
Holdsclaw, meanwhile, has played poorly against Chicago, averaging 8.5 points. She has averaged 18.1 points over her last seven games.
The Dream are encouraged by the progress of rookie Angel McCoughtry, whose best effort came June 23 with a season-high 26 points in a 99-98 home loss to Chicago. McCoughtry - the No. 1 pick in the draft - was selected as the WNBA's rookie of the month for July.
"The first half of the season was a little bit of a struggle," said McCoughtry, who starred at Louisville. "I was just trying to learn the game, but I think I'm learning it now. I've been looking up to my teammates and watching film. It's been really helping."
Chicago owns the worst road record in the Eastern Conference at 2-9, although one of the wins was June 23 against the Dream. The Sky fell 76-67 at league-leading Indiana on Wednesday for their third straight road loss.
Dupree had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Sylvia Fowles added 15 and nine.
"We gave up too many offensive boards, and we didn't have any fluidity in our offense," Dupree said. "We need to be more aggressive."
- WNBA
CHICAGO 82
ATLANTA 77 FINAL
Aug 8 9:17 PM - WNBA
CHICAGO 16
ATLANTA 16 END, 1ST QTR
Aug 8 7:34 PM
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