Sky “Turn on Switch” and Dominate Atlanta

By: Nick Shears

The Chicago Sky broke out of a four-game losing streak Sunday when they took charge from the opening minutes of an anticipated rematch against the Atlanta Dream and never looked back.

“Today we were definitely able to turn on the switch,” said Sky head coach Steven Key, “We had a lot of enthusiasm before the game, and we carried it onto the floor and were able to play with it the entire time.”

Although speaking after the game, Key’s observation about his team’s momentum was evident enough by the end of the second quarter as the Sky (6-13) set a new team record for the largest halftime lead - 44-17.

Chicago starters Candice Dupree and Jia Perkins tied each other with 18 points as the team’s top scorers, but the win was a combined effort, with every player off the bench scored.

Enthusiasm was necessary Sunday after being so scarce during the recent four-game skid. The Sky’s spirits were especially low on July 5, when they became the first team to lose to the WNBA’s newest franchise, the Dream, 91-84. In that game the Sky gave up multiple leads; in Sunday’s game, the score didn’t change once.

The only threat came from 6′8 center Katie Feenstra, who scored a game high 21 points and 10 rebounds. Sky center Chastity Melvin (starting in place of the injured Syvia Fowles) could do little against Feenstra but foul, although this also proved ineffective as Feenstra made all 11 free throw attempts.

Despite Feenstra’s performance, the Dream (2-18) couldn’t stop the Sky’s continual offensive surge or help from giving up the ball at least 10 times on turnovers.

Besides giving the Sky a confidence boost, the win was necessary if they still hope to land a playoff spot without their star rookie (Fowles) in the lineup for at least another week. The 2008 number two overall draft pick from LSU was one of nine WNBA players nominated to the Olympic team, but she is still on the disabled list after spraining her left knee on June 3. Although Sky fans look forward to her return, they can be happy enough with the Sky being able to “turn on the switch” and secure a dominating victory.

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After growing up in Evanston and New Jersey, Nick Shears is a Yankee fan by blood (his uncle gave him a signed Joe Dimaggio book at birth) and a Cubs fan by principle. Although this may be one reason you do not like what he says, understand that this complicated baseball enthusiast offers a necessary East Coast perspective in an all too central minded town. He is ready to take on any of your questions or comments at shearsna@eckerd.edu.

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