August 23, 2015 – Tamika Catchings recorded 14 points and seven rebounds, while Natalie Achonwa and Maggie Lucas each added 11 points off the bench as the Fever held on to defeat the Liberty at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Fever Continue Their Ascent in Eastern Conference Race
INDIANAPOLIS – The hottest team in the WNBA just keeps pushing, keeps climbing ahead in the Eastern Conference.
The Indiana Fever made another move Sunday night – a bold and important move. Indiana knocked off the conference’s first-place team, the New York Liberty, in a stirring 80-79 outcome at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Fever have chiseled New York’s lead to one game with eight regular-season outings remaining.
That makes six consecutive victories and wins in nine of the last 10 games for the Fever (17-9). They are 14-3 since a 3-6 start to the season.
What’s it all about?
“Passion,” Fever forward Tamika Catchings said. “The focus we have now, just the intensity we have, it’s fun. It’s fun to be a part of.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Fever 80, Liberty 79 »
Not that it has been easy. The Fever defied WNBA norms by winning four consecutive road games recently, including three that tested their stamina against far West teams. The Fever traveled all day Saturday from Seattle, tried to get their body clocks back on Eastern time and prepared for the Liberty’s visit.
It boiled down to mental toughness, something the Fever have stockpiled in recent weeks, according to Coach Stephanie White.
“I think it starts with Tamika,” White said about Catchings. “Our team embodies her mentality. … She wills us to victory.”
In Sunday night’s victory, the Fever went right to work, opening a 12-point lead with some nifty first-half shooting. But New York chipped away, tying the game at 65 early in the fourth quarter. Game on.
With 1:30 remaining in the final quarter, Shenise Johnson connected from the wing to give Indiana its 80-79 edge. Defense took over from there for both clubs, and the outcome came down to New York’s final possession with 19.6 seconds left.
White and the Fever suspected the Liberty would want either guard Epiphanny Prince or forward Tina Charles to get the ball. Those two combined for 33 points Sunday night. The Fever talked about their defensive plan during a timeout.
When play resumed, Prince kept the ball on the perimeter. She tried to burst past Fever guard Briann January once, twice, three times. January fought successfully to stay in front of her.
“We just wanted to try to make whatever shot they got as difficult as possible,” White said. “We wanted to try to get the ball out of Prince’s hands, but she did a good job of maintaining it, and Bri did a heckuva job with her one-on-one defense.”
With about one second left, Prince lofted up a 16-footer that missed. Layshia Clarendon rebounded for Indiana.
“Prince is a great scorer,” January said. “So all I can do is try to get her off balance a little, stay down, stay in front and contest her shot. That’s basically what I did.”
Said Catchings: “Bri is probably one of the best on-ball defenders, period, in this league. To get by her one-on-one is hard.”
Catchings led Indiana with 14 points and seven rebounds. Natalie Achonwa and Maggie Lucas came off the bench for 11 points apiece. Johnson and Lynetta Kizer each scored 10 as the Fever guaranteed themselves at least a .500 regular-season mark for the first time since 2012.
Charles scored 18 points and Prince had 15 to lead New York. Brittany Boyd added 14 points.
For Indiana, the victory was the eighth in a row at home. The Fever, flourishing in the fast-paced offense that White installed before the season, have averaged 85 points per game in those eight. More home games await this week against Los Angeles (Wednesday) and Atlanta (Friday).
But perhaps Johnson, who is a strong candidate for Most Improved Player in the WNBA, summed it up best. The Fever want to stay focused on late August and September, not what’s in their rear-view mirror.
“We’re big on being in the moment,” said Johnson, “and just attacking every game and trying to be perfect in every game.”
August 23, 2015 – Coach Stephanie White, Tamika Catchings and Shenise Johnson discuss the Fever’s 80-79 victory over the New York Liberty on Sunday night.