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Lynx-Sky Preview

Aug 15, 2009 - 4:54 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Minnesota (11-12) at Chicago (11-12), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Lynx were feeling optimistic about heading in a new direction after they opened the season with a blowout win over the Chicago Sky.

The Lynx, however, visit the Sky on Saturday still struggling without their star player.

Minnesota (11-12) beat Chicago (12-12) 102-85 at home June 6, led by 23 points from Seimone Augustus and 20 from Candice Wiggins. The Lynx, who finished last in the Western Conference in 2008, had been forced to replace their coach three days before the start of the season after Don Zierden resigned. The upheaval did little to rattle them in that easy win over the Sky.

A season-ending injury to Augustus (torn ACL), however, has caused plenty of problems. Minnesota has dropped seven of 10 and its last two, including a 91-81 home defeat to Indiana on Thursday.

Despite the slump that has dropped them below .500, the Lynx are in third place in the West, benefiting from a conference that has only two teams with a winning record.

They'll have to finish better than they did in Thursday's loss if they hope to maintain that position. Wiggins scored 23 points in the defeat while Nicky Anosike had 14 and 16 rebounds, but Minnesota let a six-point fourth-quarter lead slip away when Indiana went on an 18-2 run. The Lynx also struggled with turnovers, committing 17 including 11 in the second half.

"We have got to take care of the ball down the stretch," coach Jennifer Gillom said. "It was caused by the defense a little bit but it was also a little lack of focus. And right now we need our focus."

After splitting a four-game homestand, the Lynx play their next four on the road, where they are 5-4.

The Sky, meanwhile, return home after splitting a four-game trip. They beat New York 88-77 on Friday as Sylvia Fowles scored 22 points and Candice Dupree added 20. Each player had nine rebounds.

Chicago shot 53.4 percent and cruised after leading 56-28 at halftime. It marked a sharp turnaround for the Sky, who had been held to 27 points in the first half of their loss to Detroit on Sunday.

"We know when we get off to a good start that we can play a lot better," Chicago coach Steve Key said. "We didn't expect to go up 29 points at one point."

Fowles, who shot 7 of 11 from the field Friday, had averaged 11.3 points in her previous three games.

With the victory, the Sky moved into a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference with Washington. They have a chance to gain further ground with their next three games at home, where they are 8-2 this season.

The Lynx are 1-2 all-time in Chicago against the Sky, but they won last year's visit 75-69.