INDIANAPOLIS – In a game featuring 13 lead changes, the Indiana Fever (5-14) had another close matchup end in defeat on Sunday to the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 77-76.

All-Star rookie center Aliyah Boston was the leading scorer for Indiana in the loss as she notched 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the court. Forward NaLyssa Smith followed close behind in the scoring column with 17 points, while All-Star reserve Kelsey Mitchell added 12 points and a team-high four assists.

In addition, Erica Wheeler contributed nine points, Lexie Hull pitched in seven points and Grace Berger came off the bench to record a career-high in the scoring column on 2-of-2 shooting to go along with three assists.

Five Fever players recorded at least six rebounds in the loss, highlighted by Boston’s eight rebounds. Smith, Wheeler, Hull and Victoria Vivians recorded six rebounds each. The occasion marked the first time five Fever players had recorded at least six rebounds in a game since Indiana beat the Seattle Storm on August 20, 2020.

Though opening the game shooting 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the court, the Fever offensive pace slowed midway through the quarter as they finished the first frame shooting 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from the floor. Boston added six points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting clip within the first ten minutes of play, and Mitchell dished out three assists in support. Dallas shot 60 percent from the field and finished the first frame ahead, 27-17, in the midst of what would extend into a 23-8 scoring run in the beginning of the second quarter.

The Wings extended their lead to as many as 13 to start the second quarter, but a 12-0 Indiana run lasting three minutes allowed the Fever to reduce the deficit to one point. The Indiana scoring run, which eventually expanded to 19-6 after another three minutes, was capped off by a Smith three-point play that allowed Indiana to take the lead with 22.1 seconds remaining in the half. In addition, the Fever held the Wings to a season-low 11 second quarter points as they outscored Dallas, 21-11. A Natasha Howard completed layup sent the teams into the locker room tied, 38-38, at the half.

The third quarter was efficient out of the locker room for the Fever as an 8-of-13 shooting clip in the first eight minutes of the half allowed Indiana to extend to as many as eight points. Mitchell caught fire and guided Indiana in the scoring attack as she notched 10 of her 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and 2-of-3 shooting from behind the arc. The Wings caught up to the Fever with an 8-0 scoring run and tied the matchup going into the final frame, 59-59.

Though Indiana took possession of and held the lead for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, it was Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale that helped to take back the lead and propel Dallas to the win as she rattled off 14 of her 20 second half points in the last six minutes of play alone. Indiana was just shy of regaining the lead after a made layup from Smith brought the Fever within one point with 35.7 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Fever were unable to convert on their last possession following two missed free-throws from Teaira McCowan.

For the Wings, Dallas was led by Ogunbowale, one of its two All-Star starters, who netted 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the court. Ogunbowale also recorded five assists and shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Forward Natasha Howard pitched in 16 points to the win to go along with eight rebounds.

Dallas, who entered the matchup leading the league in both offensive rebounds and total rebounds, was held to 33 total rebounds and nine offensive rebounds. The Wings also shot a season-low 16.7 percent (2-of-13) from behind the arc.

UP NEXT
The Fever play the last home game before the WNBA All-Star break on Wednesday afternoon against the New York Liberty at Noon ET. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page.