Fever-Shock Preview

By ANDY LEFKOWITZ
Posted May 28 2010 12:53PM

The low-scoring Indiana Fever have bounced back from a slow start and hope a new acquisition can help them move over .500 for the first time this year.

After picking up guard Shavonte Zellous from Tulsa, the Fever are expected to have her in uniform Saturday night when they travel to face the Shock in a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference finals.

Last in the league in scoring with 72.0 points per game, Indiana (2-2) sent a second-round draft pick in 2011 to Tulsa for Zellous on Thursday. The former Pittsburgh star averaged 4.0 points and 2.5 assists in four games with the newly relocated Shock.

With Detroit last year, though, Zellous was second among all rookies with 11.9 points per game. She also finished second among all players with 155 free throws, trailing new teammate Tamika Catchings.

Coming off the bench in the playoffs against Indiana, Zellous averaged 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists as the Shock lost the series in three games. The Fever then fell in the WNBA finals to Phoenix in five games.

Following an 0-2 start this year, the Fever are coming off a 69-61 win over the Sky on Sunday that completed a home-and-home sweep. Indiana set a season high for points in a 92-86 victory in Chicago on Saturday.

"Right off the gate, it's like, 'Oh, shoot, we're down two games already in the hole,'" said Catchings, who had 13 points, five rebounds and three steals Sunday. "To get two wins, especially off a back-to-back weekend, is something this team really needed. Now the slate is clean."

In her ninth season, Catchings leads the Fever with 17.8 points per game for her highest average since 2003.

Tulsa (1-3) started a three-game homestand with a 110-96 loss to the Mercury on Tuesday.

Amber Holt, who leads the team with 14.8 points per game, scored a season-high 20. Shanna Crossley and Scholanda Robinson added 13 apiece for the Shock, who shot 47.4 percent but were 4 for 16 on 3-pointers.

"We got some good looks and knocked them down, so that's a good sign for us for the next game," coach Nolan Richardson said.

Tulsa is at the bottom of the league in 3-point shooting, converting 26.7 percent.

The Shock have yet to win in three home games this year.

Shock earn first win in new home, beat Fever 79-74

Posted May 29 2010 10:40PM

TULSA, Okla.(AP) The Tulsa Shock earned their first victory in their new home with a 79-74 win over the Indiana Fever on Saturday night at the BOK Center.

Chante Black's layup with under a minute left broke a 72-72 tie. An 18-foot jumper by Natasha Lacy and free throws from Black and Alexis Hornbuckle clinched the win.

Amber Holt came off the bench to lead Tulsa with 16 points. Lacy put up 15 points, Plenette Pierson scored 12 and Kara Braxton had 11.

The Fever (2-3) were led by Tamika Catching's 15 points. Ebony Hoffman added 14, Katy Douglas scored 13 and Shay Murphy had 12.

The Shock (2-3), who moved from Detroit before the season, led 40-35 lead at halftime, but Indiana seized control in the third period to go up 59-53. But Lacy hit a 3 from midcourt at the buzzer and that set the tone for Tulsa's comeback.

Marion Jones entered the game with 4:50 left in the first quarter and played for more than 2 minutes before returning to the bench. The disgraced Olympic sprinter did not score but did have three assists in 5 minutes.

Shavonte Zellous, two days after being traded by the Shock, was in the house suited up for the Fever. Zellous was traded to Indiana on Thursday for a second-round pick in the 2011 draft.

• Fever: --
• Shock: --

• Fever: --
• Shock: --

• Lead Changes: 16
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
• Officials: #21 Byron Jarrett, #4 Sue Blauch, #44 Felicia Grinter
• Attendance: 4005
• Duration: 2:1