BRADENTON, Fla. – The Indiana Fever entered Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the Atlanta Dream without starting forward Natalie Achonwa due to a right hamstring injury sustained on Friday. Lauren Cox and Erica Wheeler were also not available on Sunday against a rebuilding Atlanta team.
Despite the reduced roster size and falling behind 10-0 in the first 3:05 of the game, the Fever (2-2) put together the most complete effort this season in a 93-77 victory against the Dream. Indiana rallied to tie its highest scoring quarter of the season after the first 10 minutes to take a 30-23 lead into the second quarter. The Fever did not trail the rest of the game.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including a scorching 4-of-5 effort from beyond the arc. Sunday was Mitchell’s 15th career 20-point scoring effort.
Fever forward Candice Dupree continued her impressive start to the season with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, five assists and three rebounds in more than 33 minutes of action.
The newest addition making the most impact this season continued to be a stable presence in the starting lineup for Head Coach Marianne Stanley on Sunday. Julie Allemand followed up her 11-assist performance on Friday with 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in a game-high 34:24 of playing time.
Fever rookie Kathleen Doyle made her debut on Sunday after missing the first three games of the season due to an ankle injury.
The Fever kept rookie Dream (2-2) guard, Chennedy Carter, in check for most of Sunday’s game. Carter picked up her fifth foul early in the third quarter after scoring seven points on 3-of-6 shooting in the first half. Carter ended the game with 15 points as Atlanta dropped a third straight decision to Indiana.
Fever guard Victoria Vivians left the game in the third quarter with a right leg injury. She did not return.
UP NEXT
After two days of rest, the Fever will return on Wednesday at 10 p.m. to take on the Los Angeles Sparks. At no cost to fans, Sunday’s game can be streamed at FeverBasketball.com, on the Indiana Fever’s Facebook page, or via the Fever app.