BRADENTON, Fla. – Thursday night began a four-game stretch for the Indiana Fever facing opponents with a combined 38-10 record. Two games against the Seattle Storm and two against the Chicago Sky.
Even with guard Tiffany Mitchell out with a right wrist injury, adding to the extensive list of Fever players missing games in an already condensed season, the Indiana Fever responded with a 90-84 win to snap Seattle’s nine-game winning streak.
In Mitchell’s absence, Kennedy Burke added a much-need boost, finishing the night with a career-high 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting and a 6-of-9 clip from the charity stripe. Thursday night was Burke’s first game in the starting lineup since the 2019 regular season finale against Connecticut.
Burke chipped in seven of her 23 in the first quarter as the Fever (5-7) drew even with Seattle after the first 10-minute interval. She ended the first half with 15 points and the Fever went into the locker room with a 44-41 advantage, thanks to a buzzer-beating halfcourt heave from Kelsey Mitchell. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Mitchell finally got on the board in the second quarter and gave Indiana momentum heading into the locker room.
After Seattle narrowed the deficit to 52-50 in the third quarter, a 12-0 run spanning the next 2:58 gave the Fever the largest lead of the night heading toward the end of the quarter.
Storm guard Jewel Loyd would cut the Fever lead down to 88-84 with 24.8 seconds remaining, but two made free throws from Burke would seal the much-needed win for the Fever. Loyd tied the league-high 35 points for most points scored in a game this season.
Fever guard Julie Allemand poured in another stellar night as the rookie went for 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range, seven rebounds and six assists. Indiana made a season-best 12 field goals from beyond the arc.
Teaira McCowan tied a season-best seven offensive rebounds to aid in her 10-point and 10-rebound performance. Thursday was McCowan’s fourth double-double this season.
Natalie Achonwa continued her impressive stretch off the bench with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Indiana outrebounded Seattle on Thursday night, 46-30.
UP NEXT
The Fever meet the Eastern-Conference leading Chicago Sky for the first time this season on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. Saturday’s game will be streamed on FeverBasketball.com, the Indiana Fever’s Facebook page, via the Fever app as well as CBS Sports Network.