June 20, 2015 – Highlights from the Fever’s 87-75 loss to the Washington Mystics at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Washington’s Hot Shooting Sends Fever To Defeat

INDIANAPOLIS – As Indiana Coach Stephanie White analyzed the Fever’s defensive inconsistencies Saturday night, a look at the visitors’ shooting statistics amplified her words.

The Washington Mystics opened with 71.4 percent shooting in the first quarter. They cooled some before halftime, but their 51.7 percent marksmanship in the second half proved too much for Indiana to overcome. The Fever stumbled, 87-75, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The Mystics also totaled 51.7 percent (31-of-60) for the game. They were at 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from 3-point range. Ivory Latta led the Mystics with 24 points, hitting 7-of-12 overall and 6-of-8 on 3-pointers.

PHOTO GALLERY Fever 75, Mystics 87 »

“I thought we were a step slow early in the ball game and really established a soft tone on the defensive end in that first quarter,” White said. “We tried to fight and claw our way back.

“Washington, give them credit. They made every big play. Latta made every big shot. They got every loose ball. They made all the hustle plays, the ones we made last night to come away with a victory in New York.”

On Friday night, Indiana (3-5) captured a satisfying 80-63 triumph at New York. The Fever didn’t get back to Indianapolis until about noon Saturday. An element of fatigue played into their performance a few hours later.

But Washington, too, came into Saturday night’s game after playing Friday night. And the Mystics were still hitting shots in the final minutes, including eight straight points by Latta at the end that locked up the victory.

“We have to find a way to fight through that mentally,” White said about fatigue. “We can’t be late to our coverages. We can’t miss our coverages. We have to be there. We might be a step slow, but we have to get there. And we weren’t getting there tonight.”

Washington (4-2) hurt the Fever with inside stuff as well as treys. Post players Emma Meesseman and Stefanie Dolson combined for 12-of-18 shooting and 27 points.

“We just really let them drive middle,” said Fever veteran Tamika Catchings. “That’s not in our defensive plan at all. They got a lot of middle penetrations, which we were trying to figure out.”

Added Fever guard Briann January: “We allowed them to gain some momentum and feel comfortable on offense. They hit some big shots and they got rolling.”

January and Lynetta Kizer led the Fever with 14 points apiece. But Indiana’s shooting, like its defense, looked out of synch at times. The Fever were at 36.1 percent overall (26-of-72) and just 25 percent (5-of-20) from 3-point range.

Still, Indiana made it a six-point game (76-70) when Kizer scored at the 3:30 mark of the fourth quarter. But Indiana had no answer for the Mystics’ outside gunning, which resulted in three clinching 3-pointers over the next two minutes.

For the Fever’s Catchings, a streak of shooting difficulties continued. In the last three games, the Indiana star has hit just 3-of -31 shots from the field.

“Tamika affects the game in more ways than just the way she shoots the ball,” White said. “I think for her, it’s to be not so caught up in how she shoots the ball. She still makes terrific defensive plays. She still makes her teammates better (in) her presence on the floor, her leadership, her understanding of the game and the flows of the game.

“I think the biggest thing you tell her,” White added, “is just to let it go, to let it come, don’t force it … and play through it.”

June 20, 2015 – FeverBasketball.com’s Wheat Hotchkiss wraps up Indiana’s 87-75 loss to the Washington Mystics. Video includes soundbites from both coaches and locker rooms.

June 20, 2015 – Fever players Briann January, Lynetta Kizer, and Tamika Catchings discuss Indiana’s 87-75 loss to the Washington Mystics.

June 20, 2015 – Fever head coach Stephanie White talks about the 87-75 loss to the Washington Mystics.

June 20, 2015 – Mystics head coach Mike Thibault and players Ivory Latta and Emma Meesseman talk about their 87-75 win over the Indiana Fever.

June 20, 2015 – Personal finance expert Pete the Planner and his daughter Ollie attended the Fever’s Daddy Date Night presented by College Choice 529.

June 20, 2015 – Artist Barb Stahl paints the new NCAA Women’s Final Four Logo in the main concourse of Bankers Life Fieldhouse before the Fever game.