PHOENIX – Kelsey Mitchell’s season-high 28 points and NaLyssa Smith’s 10th double-double of the season guided the Indiana Fever (9-24) to an 83-73 victory against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday night at Footprint Center. Along with a season-high, Mitchell surpassed 3,000 career points on a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter becoming the 21st player in league history, and the second fastest, to hit the 3,000 point threshold while also recording 400 made 3-pointers and 500 assists through the first 186 games of her career, per Across the Timeline. The All-Star guard also went 5-for-10 from 3-point range and dished out four assists tonight against Phoenix.

Indiana held the Mercury to 32 points in the first half for the lowest first half offensive output this season from a Fever opponent. Tonight’s win was Indiana’s second win against Phoenix this season and marks the first win in Phoenix since 2017.

Smith’s double-double was highlighted by 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor with 11 rebounds. Smith became the sixth player in WNBA history to score at least 25 points and pull down at least 10 rebounds while shooting 75 percent or better from the floor in a single game during their first or second season, per Across the Timeline.

Aliyah Boston added nine points on 4-of-6 shooting from the court to go along with five rebounds and two blocks. Boston’s 43 blocks this season moves her one block behind Teaira McCowan’s franchise rookie record. Erica Wheeler contributed seven points and Emma Cannon gathered six points in the win, while rookie guard Grace Berger dished out a team-high five assists off the bench.

In addition, the Fever tied a season-high 10 steals, highlighted by Boston and Wheeler’s three steals each. Indiana also tied a season-low committing only eight turnovers.

After completing only one basket in the first two minutes of play, Indiana used a 12-0 scoring run to spring ahead and take a lead of as many as 10 points on one occasion in the first frame. The Fever scoring run that eventually improved to 18-7 was propelled by Mitchell’s 10 points and Smith’s eight points in the quarter. Though Phoenix closed out the quarter on an 11-4 scoring run of its own, Indiana held a three-point lead going into the second frame, 22-19.

The Fever maintained the lead throughout the entirety of the second quarter as they held the Mercury to only 13 points on 31.3 percent (5-of-16) shooting from the floor within the final 10 minutes of the half. In addition, Phoenix was held to shooting 0-for-10 from 3-point range in the opening half. Boston’s six points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting clip combined with Smith’s five points and four rebounds in the quarter helped Indiana take an eight point lead, 40-32, at the halfway mark.

Following the lowest scoring first half of the season for an Indiana opponent, the Mercury opened the third quarter with a 10-3 scoring run that allowed Phoenix to reduce the deficit to one. Sophie Cunningham and Megan Gustafson notched 10 and eight points respectively for the Mercury, while Smith added seven points for the Fever. Despite being outscored by Phoenix, 22-17, in the third frame, Indiana went into the final quarter ahead, 57-54.

The fourth quarter belonged to Mitchell, who notched 13 points in the final frame on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor. Mitchell’s 3-point field goal at the 3:28 mark set off an eventual 14-4 scoring run that gave Indiana a 13 point advantage, which was the largest lead of the night. Both teams shot 50 percent from the floor in the final frame, but the Fever outscored Phoenix, 26-19, to seal the win.

The Mercury’s four scorers in double-figures tonight were led by Cunningham’s 18 points on 11-of-12 shooting from the free throw line. Gustafson came off the bench to add 15 points to help the Mercury reserves outscore the Indiana reserves, 25-11. Michaela Onyenwere contributed 12 points and Moriah Jefferson pitched in 10 points.

The Mercury recorded the lowest 3-point field goal percentage of the season at 13.6 percent from beyond the arc while tying a season-low three 3-pointers made on 22 attempts. Phoenix tied a season-high 12 offensive rebounds, highlighted by Gustafson’s three offensive rebounds.

Mercury guard Diana Taurasi did not play in the second half after exiting with a left toe injury.

UP NEXT
The Fever return home to take on the Seattle Storm on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the official Fever Facebook page.