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Aug 9, 2009 - 3:29 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chicago (10-11) at Detroit (7-11), 6:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Sky's struggles on the road have kept them from making a big run. The Detroit Shock, meanwhile, can't sustain any consistency no matter where they play.

The Sky look to move above .500 for the first time in more than a month when they visit the Shock on Sunday.

Chicago (11-11) was 6-3 on June 30 before losing four straight to fall below .500. The Sky haven't had a winning record since July 7, and they'll be trying to win back-to-back games for the first time since a three-game run to close June.

Most of Chicago's losses this season have come on the road. The Sky are 3-9 away from home, although they improved to 1-1 on this four-game trip with an 82-80 win over Atlanta on Saturday.

Rookie Erin Thorn scored a season-high 20 in the win, and Chicago held on after blowing a 16-point lead.

Thorn, a backup guard, scored in double figures in only three of the Sky's first 21 games, but she scored 15 of their first 29 on Saturday.

"That's the good thing about us," coach Steve Key said. "Over the season a lot of different people have stepped up and stepped up big."

Candice Dupree had 17 points and 11 rebounds while Jia Perkins added 14 points and five steals.

The Sky had averaged 65.5 points and shot 39.3 percent in their previous two road games. They shot 49.2 percent Saturday, moving into a tie with Connecticut and Atlanta for third place in the Eastern Conference.

"It's going to go down to the wire," Key said. "Our biggest thing is we're trying to win all the head-to-head games."

Detroit (7-11) might not be involved in any playoff race if it can't find a way to turn its season around. The Shock have lost two of three, falling 70-66 at Washington on Friday.

Kara Braxton scored a team-high 14 and Deanna Nolan added 12. Braxton, who also had six rebounds, missed a wide-open layup with eight seconds remaining.

"That happens," said forward Taj McWilliams, who also missed a layup late in the game. "Offense happens, but defense is what you make happen. We have to do what we need to do on defense. After she missed that layup, Kara Braxton had her head down, and she came back to the locker room with her head down. But she's young - she'll work through that."

The defending WNBA champion Shock have averaged 69.0 points in their last three games after averaging 86.3 in the previous four.

The Shock are 3-1 all-time at home against Chicago. Detroit lost two of three to the Sky in 2008, winning the one matchup at The Palace. Perkins averaged 18.3 points against Detroit last year.