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Sky-Sun Preview

Jun 21, 2010 - 5:33 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (4-8) at Connecticut (8-3), 7:30 p.m. EDT

Since Connecticut Sun rookie Tina Charles made her debut against the Chicago Sky, she's done nothing but improve.

Charles and the Eastern Conference-leading Sun look to remain perfect at home Tuesday night when they host the last-place Sky and Sylvia Fowles in a marquee matchup between two of the top centers in the WNBA.

The Sun (8-3) made Charles the top overall draft pick this spring, and the University of Connecticut product has been outstanding. She's 12th in the league in scoring with 16.3 points per game, and is leading the WNBA with 11.0 rebounds per game and eight double-doubles for Connecticut, which is 6-0 at home.

Charles averaged 25.0 points and 15.5 rebounds in the Sun's two-game sweep at Los Angeles and Phoenix. Her 24 points and 12 rebounds helped key a 96-94 win over the Mercury on Sunday.

"This is a great win for us especially on the road," Charles said. "Just the fact that we had all the intensity and energy that was in the crowd and we didn't let up."

Charles had 17 points and 10 boards in a 74-61 home victory over Chicago (4-8) on May 15 in the season opener for both teams. Fowles led the Sky with 16 points and nine rebounds.

The Chicago center leads the league in blocks with 2.8 per game, and is second in field-goal percentage (63.9) and sixth in scoring (19.5 points). It hasn't translated to success for the Sky, who are 1-8 against East foes.

"We have our ups and downs," Fowles said. "This person played good, this person was off. When we are on the same page, we are fine, but we just to have find our groove as a team and stop being individuals."

Chicago lost its fourth straight Saturday, 65-61 in overtime at Washington. Fowles had 17 points and 10 boards, and no other Sky player scored more than 10.

While Fowles has been a defensive force inside, the Sky have had trouble guarding the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot a league-high 42.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Chicago will try to slow down a hot-shooting Renee Montgomery, who made five 3-pointers and scored 19 points Sunday. Montgomery has made at least four 3s in four of the last five games.

"I just shot when I was open," Montgomery said. "I don't think I did anything to spectacular they were just doubling our posts off of me. So when they passed out to me I shot it."

The home team has won the last seven meetings, with the Sun taking the last four at home.