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Mystics-Sky Preview

Jun 10, 2010 - 2:22 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Washington (4-4) at Chicago (4-5), 8:30 p.m. EDT

With an opportunity to extend their franchise-best winning streak, the Chicago Sky couldn't get the job done in their last game. They'll get a chance to rebound Friday night when they host the Washington Mystics.

After getting off to a franchise-worst 0-4 start, Chicago (4-5) won a team-record four straight prior to Tuesday's 85-70 loss to New York. The Sky, who averaged 83.0 points and shot 42.9 percent from 3-point range during their run, had their second lowest point total of the season while missing 15 of 20 from beyond the arc.

"Everybody knows that if you are not confident in what you are getting done you are all over the place, and particularly for us, they got a chance to shut us down," coach Steve Key told the Sky's official website.

Rookie Epiphanny Prince tied a career high with 20 points off the bench, but reigning Eastern Conference player of the week Sylvia Fowles was held to 11 and six boards. Three nights earlier, the third-year center had a career-high 32 points with 13 rebounds in a 25-point win against Tulsa.

The Mystics will likely need a big effort from veteran center Chasity Melvin against Fowles, who averaged 11.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks versus Washington last season as the teams split four matchups.

After missing five games with an ankle injury, Fowles had 13 points and four rebounds off the bench in a 92-86 win over the visiting Mystics on Sept. 4 to help Chicago win its franchise-best 15th game.

While the Sky are looking to win their fourth straight at home in this matchup, the Mystics (4-4) are trying to bounce back from Saturday's 86-79 overtime loss to Atlanta. After giving up an eight-point fourth-quarter lead, Washington committed four of its 19 turnovers in the extra session.

"Coach (Julie Plank) said we need to be tougher, not hang our heads when we turn it over," Crystal Langhorne said after tying a career high with 23 points and eight rebounds. "We're doing that a little bit and we need to get out of it."

Langhorne scored 16.3 points per game with 8.5 boards against Chicago in 2009.

Washington, which plays five of its next six at home, will try to avoid losing four straight on the road for the first time since dropping its final five games away from the Verizon Center last year.