Fire in the sky sends shock waves through Detroit

Blood was boiling, and the Chicago Sky was hot Saturday night.

By the time Detroit Shock forward Katie Smith got ejected because of back-to-back technical fouls in the fourth quarter, the Sky was well on its way to a decisive 76-59 win over the defending Eastern Conference champions.

For Smith and her teammates, such was the frustration of trying to play catch-up to a team that hasn't won in almost a month.

The Sky, which had leads as big as 20 points, had entered the game having lost its last five games. The win, in front of 3,407 at the UIC Pavilion, improves its record to 4-9.

Detroit, which was just a half-game out of first in the Eastern Conference standings, drops to 11-5.

"Nobody wants to be the team to lose to the team with the losing streak," Chicago Sky coach Steve Key said. "Detroit didn't want that to be them. They're emotional. And Katie Smith is always a fiery person. I think that's what makes her a great player.

"We did a great job of rebounding and communicating, things we haven't really done (consistently) all season long. It was just a great effort all the way around."

The Sky had four players reach double figures while holding every player in the Shock's starting lineup to single digits.

Forward Candice Dupree led the way for the Sky with 18 points while guards Dominique Canty and Jia Perkins tallied 14 points apiece and center Chasity Melvin added 10 points.

"This is huge," Dupree said. "I don't know if we've ever beaten (Detroit) here. To beat one of the top two teams in the East is big for us."

Dupree was right. The Sky got its first win against Detroit at home and is now 2-6 all time against the Shock.

"We all just got out and did whatever we had to do," said Sky forward Brooke Wyckoff, who has started the last two games and has provided a spark. She pulled down 7 rebounds on the night. "Tonight everything was clicking.

"(The losing streak) was so frustrating. It's hard to keep your head up. It feels good to beat a very talented and winning team."

Reserve guard Shay Murphy led the Shock with 13 points. Leading scorers Smith and Deanna Nolan, who each average about 15 points per game, were held to 7 and 4 points, respectively.