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Sun-Sky Preview

Aug 19, 2010 - 4:42 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Connecticut (16-16) at Chicago (14-18), 8:30 p.m. EDT

When the Connecticut Sun and Chicago Sky opened the season against each other in May, they had much bigger goals than the ones they'll be settling for as the 2010 campaign comes to an end this weekend.

The Sun try for their third win in four games, which will guarantee at least a .500 record this year, when they visit the Sky on Friday night.

Connecticut (16-16) opened the season with a 74-61 win over Chicago (14-18) as rookie Tina Charles scored 17 points and added 10 rebounds.

While Charles has continued to develop into one of the league's top rookies, averaging 15.4 points and 11.8 rebounds, her play wasn't enough to get the Sun back into the playoffs.

After missing the postseason in 2009 for the first time since 2002 when the franchise was located in Orlando, Connecticut started this year strong but faded in July, going 3-6. The Sun were officially eliminated from contention after a 79-66 loss to Indiana on Sunday.

They defeated Tulsa 90-62 on Tuesday in their home finale, as Renee Montgomery scored 22 points to lead five players in double figures. Connecticut shot 51.6 percent while holding Tulsa to 28.9 percent shooting.

"These games shouldn't be throw-aways," said coach Mike Thibault, whose team can ensure it won't have back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in franchise history with a win Friday. "There's still time to build some chemistry for next season."

The Sky are also looking ahead to next season. Chicago defeated playoff-bound Atlanta 84-79 on Tuesday for its second win in eight games.

Sylvia Fowles finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Epiphanny Price scored eight of her 14 points in the fourth quarter as Chicago rallied from an eight-point deficit. The Dream routed the Sky 98-74 in each team's previous game Saturday.

"The last game was a very testing time," Fowles said. "It tested our character. They brought it to us and we didn't want that to happen again."

Fowles and the Sky have won the last two meetings with the Sun. Fowles had 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 92-80 win July 1 to give Chicago its fourth straight home victory over Connecticut.

Charles struggled in that game, managing five points on 2-of-9 shooting and turning the ball over five times.