July 15, 2015 – Shavonte Zellous scored 16 points, while Tamika Catchings added 11 points and 11 rebounds in Indiana’s 83–80 win over Tulsa.

Indiana’s Catchings Produces Impressive Save Against Tulsa

INDIANAPOLIS – Their performance looked frayed around the edges at times, but the Indiana Fever’s winning streak remains intact. Tamika Catchings made sure of it.

The Indiana forward totaled 11 points and 11 rebounds – the 94th double-double of her illustrious WNBA career – and lifted the Fever to an 83-80 victory Wednesday night over the visiting Tulsa Shock.

One rebound for Catchings stood out above the rest. With 10.9 seconds remaining and Indiana clinging to a two-point lead, she maneuvered around Tulsa’s Plenette Pierson to grab a missed free throw by the Fever’s Marissa Coleman.

PHOTO GALLERY: Fever 83, Shock 80 »

Catchings’ hustle, extending the possession, helped to save the Fever on a night when they nearly frittered away a 15-point first-half lead. Indiana’s high-energy start lost some steam after halftime, and Tulsa mounted a 16-6 run in the fourth quarter.

“It’s absolutely what she’s all about,” said Fever Coach Stephanie White, admiring Catchings’ late heroics. “It’s why she’s one of the greatest players ever to put on a jersey.”

Catchings now has 3,022 rebounds, moving into third place on the WNBA’s career list.

And her team owns a five-game winning streak – its longest since the WNBA championship season in 2012 – as it begins a three-game road trip before the All-Star break.

The common thread in the Fever streak, according to White, is defensive tenacity. The Fever have held opponents to 71 points a game and 41 percent shooting in the past five. Tulsa hit 40 percent from the field (30-of-75).

“You’re finding out about the identity of your team,” said White, who saw her club lock down the Shock (10-5) in the final minute after some earlier defensive lapses. “I thought we showed tremendous toughness. I thought we showed great fight. …. Finding ways to win: I think that shows the growth of our team.”

Catchings hit one of two free throws with 7.1 seconds left to extend Indiana’s margin to 83-80. After a timeout, Tulsa’s Riquna Williams, who totaled 31 points in the game, missed a 3-point attempt from the corner. Indiana’s Layshia Clarendon rebounded to wrap up her team’s eighth triumph in 14 games.

Shavonte Zellous, who missed eight games with a back injury, came off the bench to lead Indiana with 16 points. Clarendon scored 13 and added a team-high four assists.

Clarendon got the start because of her defense. She didn’t disappoint as she continued to burnish her reputation as a robust defender.

“(It was) just really getting stops,” Clarendon, who also had four rebounds, said about her goals for the night, “and making things happen, trying to wreak a little havoc, wearing guards down.”

The Fever played without guard Shenise Johnson, who had a sprained ankle, and center Natalie Achonwa, who is with the Canadian national team for a few weeks. Ten players saw action. The five who came off the bench totaled 35 points for the Fever, whose reserves are the top-scoring subs in the WNBA.

“It’s going to be huge for us all season long,” White said about bench production. “We have to do it collectively. … Everybody on our team knows you are going to get an opportunity.”

Indiana’s Natasha Howard contributed a career-best 11 rebounds off the bench.

July 15, 2015 – FeverBasketball.com’s Darren Thomas wraps up Indiana’s 83-80 win over the Tulsa Shock.

July 15, 2015 – Fever head coach Stephanie White discusses Indiana’s 83-80 win over the Tulsa Shock.

July 15, 2015 – Fever players Layshia Clarendon and Tamika Catchings discuss Indiana’s 83-80 victory over the Tulsa Shock.

July 15, 2015 – Tulsa Shock head coach Fred Williams and Shock players Karima Christmas and Riquna Williams discuss their 83-80 loss to the Indiana Fever.

July 15, 2015 – Tamika Catchings was recognized before Wednesday’s game against the Tulsa Shock for winning the Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award sponsored by ESPN and PlayStation.