Sunburst Too Bright for Fever, 68-55

STAR OF THE GAME TULLY BEVILAQUA Bevilaqua scored a career-high 19 points including a three-point play and her third 3-pointer which came on consecutive possessions, to pull Indiana within seven points in the final minutes. UNSUNG HERO TAMIKA CATCHINGS Despite shooting 3-of-10 from the floor, Catchings registered a double-double effort while hustling on both ends of the floor. Catchings added four assists to go with 13 points and 10 boards. QUOTABLE BRIAN WINTERS On Connecticut and battling the big deficit: “I thought Connecticut played very well. We knew they would be ready to play after we beat them at our place. They played a zone that bothered us in the first half, and when we started missing shots, we didn’t make it back in transition. That really hurt us in the first half. When they got that big lead, it was tough to come back, but I’m really proud of the way we kept playing and drew within seven late in the game. Once we got it to a manageable deficit, we just didn’t have enough in the tank.” On Tully Bevilaqua: “If Tully didn’t play the way she did tonight, we might have lost by 25. She is the heart and soul of this team. She is our point guard. Her grit; her determination; her defense; her intensity – she means so much to us in so many ways that usually aren’t seen on the stat sheet.” HIDDEN NUMBERS Points in the paint: Fever 18, Sun 26 Fast-break points: Fever 6, Sun 6 Second-chance points: Fever 7, Sun 0 Points off turnovers: Fever 11, Sun 15 Starters scoring: Fever 47, Sun 62 Bench scoring: Fever 8, Sun 6 RELATED LINKS Box Score | WNBA Recap

GAME REPORT
	Sun 68, Fever 55
July 26, 2005 at Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, Conn.)

The Eastern Conference-leading Sun remain the only team in the WNBA this season with a perfect home record (9-0). The Sun have won 14 straight at Mohegan Sun arena, dating to last season. They have won 4 of 5 overall.

Connecticut extended its conference lead over the second-place Fever to 3 1/2 games. Indiana, whose 9-2 mark against the East remains tops in the WNBA, lost for just the second time in seven games since the All-Star Break.

Tully Bevilaqua had a career-high 19 points for Indiana. Tamika Catchings, limited to just five points in the first half, finished with 13 to go with 10 rebounds and four assists.

Lindsay Whalen shot a career-best 4-for-4 from beyond the arc and scored 13 points for Connecticut.

Whalen provided most of the offense early for Connecticut, hitting consecutive 3s that gave the Sun the lead for good at 10-8. Sales then heated up and scored all 13 of her first-half points in the final 9:51 before intermission.

The Sun broke the game open with a 12-0 run and held Indiana scoreless for five minutes. Connecticut led by as many as 17 down the stretch and took a 39-25 lead at the break.

Dydek's post play got the Sun's transition going each time Indiana threatened.

The Fever got within seven points twice in the final 4 minutes. Bevilaqua scored seven straight Fever points with a three-point play, a 3-pointer and another free throw to pull Indiana within seven points at 61-54 with 3:18 remaining. After Catchings made a free throw to cut the lead to 62-55 with 2:57 left, Sales hit Katie Douglas with an inbounds pass - Douglas converted and the Fever never got closer.

The Fever returns to Conseco Fieldhouse to host the Washington Mystics on Friday (7:00 p.m.).