Fowles Returns As Sky Breaks Fever

By Jim Niendorff: SPM IL Writer
Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Indiana's Katie Douglas is defended by Chicago's Jia Perkins. Photo by Amy Lugibihl.

CHICAGO - The Chicago Sky got just what the doctored order in Tuesday night’s game against the Indiana Fever, with the return of injured center Sylvia Fowles, a visit from Candice Dupree’s mom, and a win over an Eastern Conference playoff rival.

Fowles, who had been out since June 3 with a sprained left knee, returned to action last night. And while her minutes were minimal, her presence on the court inspired the Sky (8-15) to a 68-60 victory over Indiana (11-12).

Dupree, who led four Chicago players in double figures for the game, scored 12 of her game-high 20 points in the first quarter, and the Sky led 18-10 after one period. She also had nine rebounds.

“I was looking for my shot in the first quarter,” she said. “My mom was in town, so I always play really well when she is [here]. Hopefully that will carry over to our next two games before the break and we can get two more wins.”

Fowles started the second period to rousing applause from the 3,035 fans in attendance. She scored two points in her first three minutes, and with her aggressive play showed no signs of residual effects from her left knee strain. She played a total of 12:00 minutes, scoring two points, grabbing five rebounds, and blocking one shot.

“I was just happy to be back out with my teammates," Fowles said. "I got off to a slow start, but it felt good for the most part.”

A layup by the Sky’s Jia Perkins, who narrowly missed a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, pushed the Sky lead to 27-17 in quarter two. Rookie Quianna Chaney again came up big for the Sky with six points in the second quarter and 11 for the game. Two Chaney free throws gave the Sky a 37-31 lead at the break.

“I am just trying to do whatever my team needs me to do,” said Chaney. "We are short at the point [Dominique Canty is out with a knee injury] so that is a position where I have to step us and take care of that. I was not looking for my shot but the opportunities I did get I tried to knock down.”

The Sky led 42-34 with 6:02 left to play in the third quarter, but a 10-4 run by the Fever helped to close the gap to 50-45 at quarter’s end.

Indiana's Katie Douglas, who scored 14 points for the game, spoke about her team’s inability to take the lead in this game.

“We just did not come out with the intensity and the aggressiveness we needed to," she said. "We were fighting an uphill battle all night. Chicago came out and jumped on us, and anytime you allow that to happen on the road it puts you in a tough position.”

With the Sky leading 54-50 with 7:17 left to play, Chaney’s 3-pointer and layup pushed the Sky lead to 59-50 at the 4:20 mark. Nine of ten free-throw shooting in the final minute of play secured the win for Chicago.

Chicago shot 90 percent from the line for the game.

“We had a lot of fight in us tonight,” said Perkins. “Early on Candice led us and that is what an All-Star does, so we took after her and kept the lead.”

Chasity Melvin added 13 points and 10 points for Chicago.

Tammy Sutton-Brown chipped in with 14 points and Allison Feaster had 11 for the Fever.

Chicago now trails the Fever by 3.5 games and remains in the playoff hunt.

Both teams take the court on July 24 with the Sky traveling to San Antonio for an 11:30 a.m. CST start and the Fever entertaining the Lynx at home.

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