This site will look much better in a browser that supports basic web standards, but its content is available in any browser or Internet device. We encourage you to upgrade to a modern browser.
Streaking Sky Rocks Shock in OT
Posted Monday, September 1, 2008
 Jia Perkins splits the Detroit defense on her way to her 15 points. Photo by Amy Lugibihl. |
CHICAGO - Over a Labor Day weekend, Candice Dupree was not about to take off work Sunday night at the UIC Pavilion.
Dupree’s game-high 24 points, eight rebounds, and a career-high seven assists led the Chicago Sky to an 82-81 overtime win against the Detroit Shock.
The Sky (11-17) has now won three in a row since the Olympic break and trails the Indiana Fever by two games for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
After jumping out to a 13-2 lead in the first quarter and holding Detroit’s Olympic team member Katie Smith to two points, the Sky, behind Dupree’s nine points, led 25-16 at the end of one.
“In the first five minutes of the game, the Sky really took it at us offensively and our defense wasn’t really tuned in," Smith said. "They got some buckets in transition. They came out hard and we were not as locked in defensively as we could have been.”
The Sky’s Olympic representative, Sylvia Fowles, had three blocked shots in the quarter. Teammate Jia Perkins, who scored 15 for the game, spoke about what having Fowles back from her strained left knee means to the team.
“Words can’t even explain how much she helps in the middle," Perkins said. "She is a tremendous rebounder, offensive threat, defensive threat, shot changer. Her presence for us has been amazing.”
Fowles finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The Shock, taking advantage of 10 Sky turnovers in the second quarter, established their transition game as Smith erupted for 17 points in the quarter on 5-6 shooting, including 3-3 from beyond the arc. With the Shock down 37-33 with 3:25 left to play in the half, Smith scored her team’s next 12 points, and the Shock led 45-38 at the half.
A layup and 3-pointer from the Sky’s Brooke Wyckoff closed the gap to 49-47 with 7:44 to play in the third quarter. Smith was held scoreless for the quarter.
The Sky went up 72-65 with 5:39 left to play in regulation but a jumper from the Shock’s Taj McWilliams-Franklin gave a one-point lead back to the Shock with 4:03 left to play. A Dupree jumper knotted the score at 77 with 41 seconds remaining in the game. Dupree’s six-foot runner was off the mark as time ran out.
“I missed the last shot of the game but I had to get refocused and get ready for overtime”, said Dupree. “We knew they were going to try and get the ball to Katie [Smith] and Deanna Nolan and we tried our best to contain them as much as possible.”
The teams went scoreless for first two minutes of overtime. A jumper from Perkins at the 3:03 mark gave the Sky the lead at 79-77. Two free throws by Dupree with :47 left to play extended the lead to 82-79. A lay up by the Shock’s Kara Braxton closed the gap to 82-81. A turnover by Perkins with :03 to play allowed the Shock one final opportunity for the win, but Smith missed a desperation 24-footer at the buzzer.
Detroit (17-12) got 18 points from Nolan and 11 points and 11 rebounds from McWilliams-Franklin. Smith finished with 23 points.
Chicago won the season series two games to one.
Next up for the Sky is a home game against the Seattle Storm on September 4. The Storm will be playing without the 2007 WNBA MVP and 2008 Australian team Olympian Lauren Jackson who is out with ankle problems. The Shock takes on the Indiana Fever at home on September 5.
Copyright © SPMSportspage.com 2005-2007. All rights reserved.
i