Dupree, Fowles lead Sky in 64-57 win over Storm
CHICAGO (AP) — Tired of giving up fourth-quarter leads, Candice Dupree decided it was time for a change.
Dupree scored 14 points as the Sky blew a double-digit lead Sunday before rallying back to beat the Seattle Storm 64-57.
"In the past that was probably a game that we wouldn't have won," Dupree said. "I think experience has helped us. Some of us have been here for three years and have lost so many close games. I think we're tired of that and now it's nice to be on the other end of winning games."
Jia Perkins scored 13, Sylvia Fowles had 12 points and 15 rebounds and Dominique Canty scored 10 as Chicago (2-1) won its second straight game and beat the Storm for the first time in seven tries.
Lauren Jackson scored 22 points and Sue Bird added nine for the Storm (3-2), who had to mount a fourth-quarter rally after badly struggling in the first half.
"I think we're having a bit of an identity crisis right now," Bird said. "Every other game we seem to have energy to start and that's something that you have to have constantly, especially in this league. ... We picked it up and were able to make it into a game but had we played like that the whole game, who knows what would have happened."
Seattle, which trailed by 16 points in the second quarter, used a 12-0 run to take a 51-49 lead on Janell Burse's layup with 6:47 left in the fourth. Burse made another layup nearly a minute later to restore Seattle's lead, but Chicago then scored eight straight points to go back ahead by six with 2:11 to go.
Jackson's jumper with 1:32 remaining pulled the Storm to 59-57, but the Sky hit five free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal the win.
"We didn't play very well," Jackson said. "When we play like that you always have to question the energy level."
Playing in its fifth game in nine days, Seattle came out looking sluggish and fell behind by 15-1 late in the first quarter. The Storm had two 24-second violations and didn't make a basket until reserve Shannon Johnson entered the game and hit a 3-pointer with 2:54 left in the first quarter.
"I think both teams were a little sluggish but it was definitely noticeable," Dupree said.
Storm coach Brian Agler was called for a technical foul after Chicago's Erin Thorn hit a 3-pointer. After Thorn converted the free throw, Kristi Toliver hit a 3 to give the Sky a 26-10 lead with 7:15 left in the second.
Agler described the team's energy level as "below average" and called the schedule "not easy but no excuses."
Dupree scored 14 points as the Sky blew a double-digit lead Sunday before rallying back to beat the Seattle Storm 64-57.
"In the past that was probably a game that we wouldn't have won," Dupree said. "I think experience has helped us. Some of us have been here for three years and have lost so many close games. I think we're tired of that and now it's nice to be on the other end of winning games."
Jia Perkins scored 13, Sylvia Fowles had 12 points and 15 rebounds and Dominique Canty scored 10 as Chicago (2-1) won its second straight game and beat the Storm for the first time in seven tries.
Lauren Jackson scored 22 points and Sue Bird added nine for the Storm (3-2), who had to mount a fourth-quarter rally after badly struggling in the first half.
"I think we're having a bit of an identity crisis right now," Bird said. "Every other game we seem to have energy to start and that's something that you have to have constantly, especially in this league. ... We picked it up and were able to make it into a game but had we played like that the whole game, who knows what would have happened."
Seattle, which trailed by 16 points in the second quarter, used a 12-0 run to take a 51-49 lead on Janell Burse's layup with 6:47 left in the fourth. Burse made another layup nearly a minute later to restore Seattle's lead, but Chicago then scored eight straight points to go back ahead by six with 2:11 to go.
Jackson's jumper with 1:32 remaining pulled the Storm to 59-57, but the Sky hit five free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal the win.
"We didn't play very well," Jackson said. "When we play like that you always have to question the energy level."
Playing in its fifth game in nine days, Seattle came out looking sluggish and fell behind by 15-1 late in the first quarter. The Storm had two 24-second violations and didn't make a basket until reserve Shannon Johnson entered the game and hit a 3-pointer with 2:54 left in the first quarter.
"I think both teams were a little sluggish but it was definitely noticeable," Dupree said.
Storm coach Brian Agler was called for a technical foul after Chicago's Erin Thorn hit a 3-pointer. After Thorn converted the free throw, Kristi Toliver hit a 3 to give the Sky a 26-10 lead with 7:15 left in the second.
Agler described the team's energy level as "below average" and called the schedule "not easy but no excuses."