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One victory. That’s all the Chicago Sky was looking for Friday. That’s all the Sky is looking for Saturday. With an 87-82 victory Friday against the Atlanta Dream at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., the Sky has the opportunity to gain homecourt advantage through the entire WNBA playoffs. Well, provided that the Sky make it to the finals.
This sure looks like Elena Delle Donne of the Sky blocking a shot by Atlanta’s Erika DeSouza. Credit: Rick Welton / HomeLand Sports
All the Eastern Conference champion Sky (24-9) has to do is defeat the host Minnesota Lynx (25-8), the Western Conference champp.
Epiphanny Prince had a season-high 29 points — including 16 in the fourth quarter — for the Sky, which outscored Atlanta 25-17 in the period. Angel McCoughtry had 29 points — including her team’s first 10 — for Atlanta. She had 20 points at halftime. She went 0-for-7 from the field in the final quarter.
`I have confidence in myself again,” said Prince, who went 5-of-6 from the field (including 2-of-2 three-pointers) in the final quarter. “Whatever the defense is giving me, I take it.’
Prince also had a game-high seven assists with one coming on a layup by center Sylvia Fowles that gave the Sky the lead for good at 78-76 with 3:14 to go.
“You know Piph’s a scorer,” Sky coach Pokey Chatman said. “We expect big things from her. I have to have her on the floor because even when she’s not scoring she’s a spacer. She’s someone that the other team will set a certain scheme for, so it allows other people to get open. The bottom line is she’s a New Yorker, she can score the basketball, and I’m glad she knocked some shots down tonight.”
Sky forward Elena Delle Donne had 18 points and eight rebounds, as she continued the path to rookie-of-the-year honors. She also had two blocks, including one against Atlanta center Erika DeSouza who was driving to the basket with the Sky leading 82-78.
“It was just a big play because she was going to go up for a layup, so luckily I was able to use my length a little bit and tip the shot.”
Speaking of tips, Delle Donne won the tip on a jump ball against DeSouza that Delle Donne forced after missing a shot. The Sky possession led to a Price three-pointer that tied the game 74-74 much to the delight to the crowd of 7,679.
The Sky, which outscored the Dream 14-4 in the final 5:54, went 14-3 at home this season. Which may explain why the team’s next immediate goal is to be at home as often as possible for the postseason.
“This is amazing that we were able to get in this place, and I think it’s going to be a great game [Saturday] to prepare us for playoffs because there’s something on the line here,” Delle Donne said. “You know it’s good to play with nerves and be ready for it. Especially being away, it’s going to be a really good game for us.”
Some postgame video for your dancing and dining pleasure. Or whatever:
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