Sky scouting report vs. Minnesota Lynx

Chicago Sky (7-2) at Minnesota Lynx (11-1), 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Target Center

TV:ESPN

Last time:Last Saturday , the Sky lost at Indiana, 84-70; on Thursday, the host Lynx defeated New York, 102-70.

Skinny:Thanks to losses by other teams in recent days, the Sky is back in first place in the Eastern Conference, one-half game ahead of Connecticut. Today’s nationally televised game will pit the two conference leaders as Minnesota tops the Western Conference by two games.

The Sky, however, isn’t the same team that sprinted to a fast start. Gone is guard Epiphanny Prince, who was leading the WNBA in scoring at nearly 25 points per game. She broke her right foot in the first quarter and played only eight minutes in the loss at Indiana. She will be out for the next six to eight weeks. Figure that Tamera Young, who has scored in double-figures three of the last four games, will replace Prince in the starting lineup.

Center Sylvia Fowles is coming off a 26-point outburst against Indiana but she fought hard for every point as the Fever threw triple teams at her on almost every possession after Prince left.

The Lynx, which got off to a WNBA-record 10-0 start, rebounded quickly after its first loss of the season (to Seattle last Sunday) by rolling to a 32-point win over New York. In the New York game, Minnesota had five players in double-figures, led by Seimone Augustus with 26 points. Against Seattle, the Lynx put only two players in double figures and shot just 38 percent from the field. Normally, Minnesota hits a league-leading 50 percent of its shots.

Next:Indiana Fever at Sky, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.