Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx
WNBA Finals, Game 3
Series Tied, 1-1
Date: Friday, October 9, 2015
Time: 8:00 p.m. (EDT)
Site: Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
Television: ESPN2
Radio: 107.5 FM
Webcast: Live webcast and stats can be accessed via WNBA Live Access on FeverBasketball.com. (Webcasts during games televised on FOX Sports Indiana may not be available in local market areas due to blackout restrictions.)
Storylines & Promotion
- After splitting the first two games of the series in Minneapolis, the WNBA Finals series shifts to Indianapolis for Game 3 Friday night at 8:00 p.m. ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
- With their next victory, Indiana will pass the Los Angeles Sparks for the most playoff wins by a franchise in WNBA history. The Fever earned their 34th playoff victory in Game 1 at Minnesota on Sunday.
- When she steps on the floor for Game 3, Tamika Catchings will set the WNBA record as she appears in her 65th career playoff game. In addition, she will tie Taj McWilliams-Franklin (64) for the most postseason games started in WNBA history.
- Catchings tied McWilliams-Franklin (137) for second place in playoff offensive rebounds in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
- Erlana Larkins moved into sixth place on the WNBA’s career offensive rebound list ahead of Cheryl Ford (120) with five offensive boards in Game 2. She has how pulled down 123 offensive rebounds in the playoffs and ranks first in WNBA history with an average of 3.8 offensive boards per game in her postseason career.
- Briann January has recorded her two highest scoring games this season – including the regular season – in the Finals with 19 in Game 1 and 17 points in Game 2. Her 36 combined points in two Finals games is the second-best two-game output in her playoffs career (40 in Games 2 & 3 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Atlanta).
- Indiana matched a WNBA-Playoffs record 16-of-16 at the foul line in Game 1 and shot 14-of-15 in Game 2 – combining to hit 30-of-31 in two games of the Finals. Catchings has hit 12 consecutive FTs in two games, January has hit all eight attempts.
- Shenise Johnson has scored in double figures in 7 of 8 games in the playoffs, including 10-point outings in both games against Minnesota. She is averaged 11.8 points per game in the playoffs while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
Probable Starters
Fever – F-Marissa Coleman, F-Tamika Catchings, C-Erlana Larkins, G-Shenise Johnson, G-Briann January
Lynx – F- Maya Moore, F- Rebekkah Brunson, C- Sylvia Fowles, G- Seimone Augustus, G- Lindsay Whalen
Series Recap
(October 6, 2015) MINNEAPOLIS – The Lynx trailed by as many as nine points early in the third quarter, but Maya Moore scored 14 of her 19 points in the second half propel Minnesota to a 77-71 win in Game 2 to even the WNBA Finals at one game apiece. The Fever led 41-39 at halftime and used an 11-4 run out of the locker room to take their largest lead of the second half with 7:02 left in the period. However after committing only three turnovers in the first half, Minnesota forced Indiana into 14 mistakes in the second half while holding the Fever to 30 points in the second half to split the first two games at the Target Center. Sylvia Fowles led the Lynx with 21 points and nine rebounds. Moore added eight boards and a team-high five assists, while Seimone Augustus tallied 11 points. Briann January led the Fever for the second straight game with 17 points and five assists. Tamika Catchings was limited to just 24 minutes with foul trouble, but finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Shenise Johnson and Marissa Coleman each added 10.
(October 4, 2015) MINNEAPOLIS – Despite shooting just 36 percent from the field on the day, the Indiana Fever shot 16-for-16 from the free throw line to hold on for a 75-69 road victory in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. The Lynx rallied in the fourth quarter after trailing by six early in the period as Sylvia Fowles’ layup gave Minnesota its first second-half lead, 62-61, with 4:12 to play. But Marissa Coleman answered on the other end with a three-pointer off an offensive rebound and dish from Briann January to put the Fever ahead for good. Five Fever players finished in double figures, led by January with 19 points and six assists. Coleman finished with 16, Tamika Catchings added 12, while Shenise Johnson and Shavonte Zellous each pitched in 10. Maya Moore led the Lynx with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while frontcourt mate Sylvia Fowles added 21 and 11.
Revisiting the 2012 WNBA Finals
Much like this season’s run to the WNBA Finals, the 2012 Fever reached the WNBA Finals after facing elimination in each of the first two rounds. Indiana survived in three-game series in the Eastern Semis against the Atlanta Dream, and again in the Eastern Finals over the Connecticut Sun. The Fever would eventually defeat the Western Conference champ Minnesota Lynx in four games. In the 2012 Finals, the Fever shocked the defending champions by winning Game 1 on the road at the Target Center, 76-70. As the series shifted back to Indianapolis tied 1-1, the Fever defended their home floor and won Games 3 and 4 to capture the franchise’s first WNBA title.
Five players from the 2012 championship season are making a return trip to the Finals this season, including starters Tamika Catchings, Erlana Larkins and Briann January. Key reserve Shavonte Zellous makes her second appearance in the Finals, while Jeanette Pohlen was also a member of the 2012 championship squad.
Series
The Lynx swept the two regular season meetings with the Fever this season, including a 16-point victory at the Target Center on Sept. 4. The Fever have lost nine consecutive regular season games to the Lynx and have dropped nine regular season road games in a row at Minnesota. However, Indiana was able to steal a Game 1 victory in the 2012 WNBA Finals on their way to winning the series, 3-1.