Catchings’ Return Sparks Fever To 83-70 Win Over Washington

STAR OF THE GAME TAMIKA CATCHINGS Making her return from a foot injury, Catchings finished with a season-high 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting. She also had 11 rebounds and four assists to earn her 39th career double-double. UNSUNG HERO TULLY BEVILAQUA Bevilaqua scored a season-high 15 points, connecting on six of her seven shot attempts and finished with a season-high five rebounds. She netted 10 first quarter points as the Fever began to build a lead. QUOTABLE BRIAN WINTERS In general: “We had good balance on our team, tonight. Tully (Bevilaqua) got us going early. She gave us scoring and played aggressively. We got Tamika (Catchings) back. It’s tough when you lose your best player for a couple games. She had a terrific night. Both Tamika and Tully did a good job defensively on Alana Beard. We wanted to run with Washington and we did. We wanted to attack in the half court and we did. We drove to the basket and attacked their defense.” TAMIKA CATCHINGS On returning from injury: “I think I’m 95% over the injury so I played through it a little bit tonight. I really wanted to focus on getting the team back on the winning side. My teammates were a big help with all their encouragement.” HIDDEN NUMBERS Points in the paint: Mystics 24, Fever 36 Second-chance points: Mystics 10, Fever 10 Fast-break points: Mystics 4, Fever 7 Points off turnovers: Mystics 14, Fever 21 Starters scoring: Mystics 48, Fever 72 Bench scoring: Mystics 22, Fever 11

GAME REPORT
	Fever 83, Mystics 70
June 7, 2006 at Conseco Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Ind.) Box Score | WNBA Recap

INDIANAPOLIS – Making her return from a foot injury, Indiana’s Tamika Catchings played with a little bounce in her step on Wednesday. After missing two consecutive games, Catchings scored a season-high 26 points in propelling the Fever to an 83-70 victory over the visiting Washington Mystics in Conseco Fieldhouse. Catchings added 11 rebounds and four assists, registering her 39th career double-double. Her 26 points also tied a team-high in 2006. Tamika Whitmore scored 26 earlier this season.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Fever, who improved its record to 5-2 this season. With the loss, Washington’s record fell to 4-2.

Tully Bevilauqa followed Catchings with a season-high 15 points and season-high five rebounds for Indiana. Ebony Hoffman controlled the middle, finishing with 12 point and six rebounds. While failing to score in double figures for the first time this season with eight, Whitmore tied a career-high and led the Fever with five assists. She and Catchings accounted for nine of the team's 11 assists. The Fever starters outscored the Mystics starting five 72-48.

Alana Beard led all Washington scorers with 18 on 6-of-16 shooting. Nikki Teasley finished with 12 points, while Nakia Sanford chipped in with 12 off the bench for the Mystics.

Both teams came out shooting the ball well in the first quarter. Indiana shot 56.3 percent from the field, while Washington made 53.3 percent of its shots to start the game. Leading by four points early, Washington’s Teasley netted a 3-pointer at the 4:07 mark of the first quarter to give the Mystics its largest lead of the game at seven, 20-13. The Fever, however, would go on to outscore the Mystics 12-2, including eight unanswered, to close out the quarter to take a 25-22 lead after one. The Fever got a lift offensively from an unlikely source with Bevilaqua scoring 10 first quarter points, including two 3-pointers to lead all scorers.

The second quarter saw Tan White come off the bench and provide her customary spark on the offensive end. She came on to score eight second quarter points as the Fever began to build a lead. Her 3-point play with 8:18 left in the quarter gave Indiana a six point lead, 30-24. The Fever would maintain its lead throughout the second quarter. Similar to the first quarter, Indiana closed out the period strong, outscoring Washington 10-4. A Catchings 3-pointer would give the Fever its largest lead of the half at 45-38.

Ebony Hoffman’s 3-point play early in the third quarter gave the Fever its first double-digit lead of the game, 50-40. Indiana went on to lead by as many as 18 points in the third. Washington, though, would go on an 8-0 run to cut the lead back down to 10 early in the fourth quarter. It was the closest Washington would get as Indiana cruised to its fifth win of the season.