Sky topple Dream 80-70

By foxsports
Published

Associated Press
June 5, 2010

ATLANTA -- Sylvia Fowles had 19 points and nine rebounds, Shameka Christon had 13 points and eight assists, and the Chicago Sky defeated the Atlanta Dream 80-70 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

Cathrine Kraayeveld scored 13 points and Dominique Canty added 11 for the Sky, who opened the season with four consecutive losses.

Iziane Castro Marques scored 18 points for Atlanta, which lost its second straight after six consecutive victories. Sancho Lyttle had 14 points and Angel McCoughtry, who came in averaging 22.9, was held to 11.

"We had to scrap for that win," Sky coach Steven Key said. "That's a team that was on a roll."

The Dream have a losing streak after also falling 90-72 at Seattle on Tuesday.

"We're a little disjointed right now for some reason," Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors said.

Both teams shot well from behind the 3-point line with Chicago making 7 of 15 and Atlanta going 9 of 16.

"We're taking better care of the ball and not panicking," Key said. "In a couple of the close games we lost, we just panicked. Since then, we've been more disciplined."

"We just had to stay focused and keep our confidence," Fowles said. "We're not making as many mistakes."

The Sky went on a 16-4 run as Fowles scored seven points for a 56-41 lead midway in the third quarter.

But the Dream later went on a 14-2 run capped by a pair of 3-pointers from Castro Marques and Chicago's lead was 61-54 going into the fourth quarter.

Defended by Jia Perkins and hampered by foul trouble, McCoughtry couldn't get going offensively and spent time on the bench.

"I just felt she just wasn't giving the effort that we needed," Meadors said.

Said Perkins of defending McCoughtry: "The best thing to do is just try and deny her the ball. She's lethal when she has it. But we were able to keep the ball out of her hands and frustrate her."

Chicago led 40-35 at halftime. The Dream kept the game close with help from 5-of-6 shooting on 3-pointers.

The Sky took advantage of eight Dream turnovers in taking a 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

"We just didn't play our game," Castro Marques said. "People around the league are ready for us."