INDIANAPOLIS, May 24 (Ticker) -- Tamika Catchings led the Indiana Fever to a place they have not been to since 2002.

Catchings scored 22 of her 28 points in the second half as the Fever improved to 2-0 for the first time in three years with an 83-76 victory over the Phoenix Mercury.

The Fever, who lost their final four games last season to miss the playoffs with a 15-19 record, won their first two games for the first time since beating Detroit in a home-and-home series in 2002.

Catchings scored five points during an 11-3 run that opened the second half, giving Indiana a 44-33 lead with 17:03 to play.

The Mercury used an 8-0 run to close to 56-52 with 8:21 left, but two free throws by Catchings pushed the lead to 63-57 with less than three minutes later.

Catchings made 6-of-13 shots and grabbed nine rebounds.

Diana Taurasi scored 24 points and Plenette Pierson added 15 for Phoenix (0-2).