Sun-Fever Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Jun 24 2011 2:03PM

The Indiana Fever's bench has poured in 104 points in the last two games. Another big effort from their reserves might be needed if leading scorer Katie Douglas can't go.

The Fever will try to move ahead of the Eastern Conference-leading Connecticut Sun on Saturday night when these clubs open their season series at Conseco Fieldhouse.

After Indiana's bench scored a franchise-record 52 points in Sunday's 93-89 overtime loss at Phoenix, the backups matched that effort Tuesday in an 89-80 victory over Washington as the Fever salvaged the finale of a three-game trip.

With Douglas sidelined after suffering a lower back contusion Sunday, backup guard Shavonte Zellous scored a season-high 21 in 32 minutes.

"Coach always says you never know when your opportunity is going to present itself and tonight was my opportunity," said Zellous, who had seven points in the first six games.

Eight different Fever players have reached double-figure scoring this season.

"Our bench was amazing tonight with Katie not playing," said forward Tamika Catchings, who averaged 19.5 points and 9.3 boards in four games against Connecticut last season. "We had people that stepped up and they needed to step up."

If Douglas (16.5 points per game) sits out Saturday, Indiana may need another big game from Zellous and fellow reserve Jeanette Pohlen, a rookie averaging 12.5 points in the last two games while going 7 of 8 from 3-point range.

Bench scoring might have to help the Fever offset emerging Sun stars Renee Montgomery and Tina Charles if Indiana (4-2) wants to move ahead of Connecticut (4-2) in the East.

Montgomery matched a career high with 33 points and Charles added 22 with 13 rebounds Thursday in a 107-101 double-overtime loss at Chicago that snapped the Sun's three-game winning streak.

Montgomery, scoring a career-best 19.2 points per game in her third season, averaged 15.0 points as the Sun and Fever split their matchups in 2010.

Charles, the reigning rookie of the year, is averaging 26.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in the last three games.

With Charles playing at such a high level, the Fever starting frontcourt of Catchings, Tangela Smith and Tammy Sutton-Brown could benefit from another solid performance from backup center Jessica Davenport, who has 38 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the last two games.

These clubs meet five times this season, with the first four matchups occurring over the next 34 days.

Catchings leads Fever past Sun

By CLIFF BRUNT
Posted Jun 25 2011 9:19PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Tamika Catchings had 13 points and 12 rebounds to help the Indiana Fever defeat Connecticut 75-70 on Saturday and move into first-place in the Eastern Conference.

Catchings, who got her 70th career double-double, also had five assists.

Tammy Sutton-Brown had 12 points and Briann January added 10 for the Fever (5-3). Sutton-Brown, who came off the bench for the first time this season, helped Indiana's reserves outscore Connecticut's 31-6.

Renee Montgomery had 19 points and Asjha Jones added 18 for Connecticut (4-3), which has lost its past two games. Tina Charles, who had averaged 26 points in her previous three games, was held to 12.

• Sun: --
• Fever: --

• Sun: --
• Fever: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Officials: #8 Daryl Humphrey, #45 Tom Mauer, #25 Marcus Clayton
• Attendance: 7100
• Duration: 1:48