Silver Stars-Fever Preview

By ZAC POWELL
Posted Aug 08 2011 2:09PM

The first-place Indiana Fever had won six in a row before suffering a blowout loss over the weekend.

They'll look to get back on track Wednesday night when they host one of the Western Conference's best teams, the San Antonio Silver Stars, for the first of two meetings in a week.

Indiana (15-7) was looking for a sweep of its three-game road trip Sunday but suffered its most lopsided loss of the season, 88-69 to Chicago. The Fever trailed by one at the break before being outscored 25-13 in the third quarter and 53-35 in the second half.

Indiana allowed the Sky to go on a 12-0 run to close the game.

``They outworked us, outhustled us, they beat us up and down the floor and I am very disappointed in our effort, very disappointed in our energy," coach Lin Dunn said.

``They played like a team they wants a playoff spot and we played like a team that is resting waiting for the playoffs.''

The Fever's Tamika Catchings, averaging a team-best 14.0 points, struggled for the second time in three games. She had eight points, two games after scoring four in a victory over Los Angeles on Sunday.

Top reserve Jessica Davenport also struggled, managing six points as she failed to score in double digits for the first time in 13 games.

Indiana, 9-2 at home, will take on a San Antonio team that has dropped its last two road games. The Silver Stars (12-8) avoided a fourth straight defeat overall with a 72-64 home win over league-worst Tulsa on Saturday.

Sophia Young scored 20 points and attempted a game-high 17 shots. She's averaged 15.7 shots in her last three games after averaging 11.0 in the previous three contests.

"I'm trying to be more aggressive inside,'' said Young, who attempted a game-high 17 shots. ``Coach (Dan Hughes) has been getting on me to take more shots, so that's what I'm trying to do.''

Hughes' team is 4-1 when Young has at least 17 attempts.

Becky Hammon added 19 points along with five assists and three steals, but also had six turnovers against the woeful Shock. The Silver Stars are 8-2 when Hammon scores at least 17 points.

"It definitely was a sloppy win for us,'' center Jayne Appel said. ``We definitely wanted to play a little bit better, but in the end it was still a win.''

San Antonio and Indiana split the season series last year, each winning at home. The Silver Stars have won five of the last eight meetings.

Fever stifle Silver Stars' comeback

Posted Aug 10 2011 2:25AM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) First, Tamika Catchings got mad. Then she did something about it.

Catchings scored 21 points to lead a balanced offense and provided a defensive gem as the Indiana Fever rolled to a big lead early, then held on for an 81-68 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Tuesday.

Erin Phillips scored 18 points and Katie Douglas 13 for the Eastern Conference-leading Fever (16-7).

Becky Hammon scored 19 points and fueled a fourth-quarter rally by San Antonio (12-9), second in the Western Conference.

With the Silver Stars rallying, Catchings was whistled for a technical foul after voicing her displeasure with the officiating with 6:41 to play.

``I was a little upset,'' said Catchings, who hit 7-of-13 field goals and all three of her 3-pointers. ``I don't even remember exactly what happened. We needed something to get us fired up, right? I was just trying to find different ways to get us fired up.''

After the tech was called, the Fever players huddled.

``We got together and said, Don't let the refs take us out of the game,''' Catchings said.

Indiana led by as many as 20 points before Hammon scored 15 points in the fourth period to help the Silver Stars cut the deficit to 74-64 with 2:17 to play.

The Fever turned the ball over, with Hammon racing to the basket on a breakaway. But Catchings caught her and stripped the ball away, with Phillips grabbing the loose ball and drawing the subsequent foul. She made both free throws for a 12-point lead with 1:58 remaining.

``Don't make Catchings mad,'' Fever coach Lin Dunn said. ``What she did (stripping the ball from Hammon) doesn't surprise me at all.''

The Silver Stars scored just five points in the second quarter as Indiana built a 39-23 lead at intermission. San Antonio made just 1-of-14 field goals in the period and the Stars were 0-for-3 from 3-point range. The Fever hit 6-of-15 field goals in the period, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.

``We did a good job on Becky (Hammon) and Sophia (Young),'' Dunn said. ``Our defense is more effective as the game goes on, because we are more aware of the opponent's offense. By the second quarter, we have gotten into a rhythm.''

At the half, Young had seven points and Hammon three. Young finished with 13, Scholanda Robinson 12 and Danielle Robinson 11 for San Antonio, which has lost four of its last five games.

``We dug ourselves into a hole,'' Hammon said. ``It's hard to come back on the road.''

``I was pleased with how we came back,'' Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said. ``Catchings made some pivotal plays. That's why she's the player she is.''

• Silver Stars: --
• Fever: --

• Silver Stars: --
• Fever: Catchings, Ely

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Officials: #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #21 Byron Jarrett, #25 Marcus Clayton
• Attendance: 7520
• Duration: 2:02