Coach's Corner- Installment 18

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Installment Eighteen
Rounding off the second official week of our season we faced an experienced Houston Comets team that was looking for their fourth straight win. The entire first half the Comets seemed to run the court with intensity, it wasnt until the third period that our athletes seemed to find their groove and started running with the Comets. I was proud of the way our athletes attacked the Comets considering the large deficit we knew we would have to overcome to win the game.

The help of new arrival Bernadette Ngoyisa and her aggressive play will be key for our team success in the remaining games to come. Ngoyisa put up 8 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in just over 21 minutes of play, while Amanda Lassiter and Deanna Jackson contributed 14 points, and 13 points respectively. In the end, Tina Thomspons 23 point game and her Comets 21-point largest lead kept our late game scoring run in check. This game knocked our record to (1-4) on the season.

Sunday the 4th, your Sky returned home to face (4-2) Detroit Shock in front of another great crowd. Despite the exceptional appearance of 5th year veteran Amanda Lassiter and rookie sensation Candice Dupree their combined 38 points were not enough to overcome Chicago rival Bill Laimbeer and his Detroit Shock. Again, a late game scoring streak seemed to be too late and too short to make up for our double digit deficit. It is amazing how much of an impact playing at home has on our athletes, with a loud, intense crowd I will be looking to return home after this three-game road trip to the west coast. Chelsea Newton and Elaine Powell did not play in either game due to injuries.

In the six games we have had so far this season we stand (1-5), we have been out rebounded 242-184, and our FG% is 36.21% to our opponents 40.1%. With athletes on our team stepping up from game to game we expect to see these statistics change in the near future. Our team leaves Tuesday the 6th for Seattle, which sits even at (3-3) on the season, from there we have rematches with Los Angeles and Sacramento. Ready. Set. Soar.