Fever-Silver Stars Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Aug 15 2011 1:16PM

Despite being arguably the best defender in WNBA history and the only player in the top 10 all-time in points, rebounds and assists, Tamika Catchings has never been named MVP.

If it was up to her coach, that would change this season.

Catchings and the Eastern Conference-leading Indiana Fever try to snap a three-game losing streak in San Antonio on Tuesday night, with the Silver Stars looking to avoid another slow start.

Since entering the league in 2001, Catchings has been named rookie of the year, won a record four defensive player of the year awards - including the last two - and earned nine All-Star selections.

She is the WNBA's all-time leader in steals with 758, and is sixth all-time in points (5,025) and rebounds (2,307) and ninth in assists (1,122).

In an 82-71 victory over New York on Saturday, she matched a career high with 32 points to become the first player in league history with 5,000 points, 2,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists.

"Catch is a multidimensional player,'' said coach Lin Dunn, one win shy of tying Brian Winters for the franchise record with 78. "I think sometimes she's not given enough credit for all the different things she can do. She gets assists, she gets steals, she gets rebounds, she scores and she defends like nobody else in the league. It's unfortunate that so much emphasis is put on 'Who's the leading scorer?

"There's no doubt in my mind she's got all the credentials to be a WNBA MVP."

The Silver Stars (13-10) would have a hard time disagreeing. Catchings scored 21 points, blocked three shots and made a crucial steal on Silver Stars leading scorer Becky Hammon with 1:58 remaining in an 81-68 home win last Tuesday.

"Catchings made some pivotal plays," coach Dan Hughes said. "That's why she's the player she is."

Slowing down Catchings will be a priority for Scholanda Robinson and Sophia Young, but San Antonio also needs to get its offense in gear to start the game. The Silver Stars were outscored 39-23 in the opening 20 minutes by Indiana (17-7) last week.

Hammon tried to bring them back with 15 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter of that game, but San Antonio started slowly again Sunday, trailing by 18 at halftime and losing 85-73 at home to Chicago.

San Antonio, loser of five of seven, is tied with Phoenix for second in the Western Conference, five back of Minnesota.

"We've got to move on - it's that time of year," Hughes said. "You can come off a great win in Connecticut (72-59 on Thursday) and get a tough loss to Chicago, and now what matters is what we do with Indiana."

Hammon has 1,333 assists and needs six to move into fourth place all-time.

The Fever have dropped three straight in San Antonio.

Catchings leads Fever over Silver Stars 65-63

Posted Aug 17 2011 2:05AM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Tamika Catchings scored 26 points to help the Indiana Fever hold off the San Antonio Silver Stars 65-63 Tuesday night.

Danielle Robinson missed a jumped for the Silver Stars with 3.9 seconds left. Jia Perkins' 3-pointer with 41.4 seconds left pulled the Silver Stars within two points, but neither team was able to score after that.

The Fever (18-7) won their third straight game and for the eighth time in their last nine games. Indiana swept the season series against San Antonio after winning 81-68 at home on Aug. 9.

Indiana trailed by four points in the third quarter but held San Antonio to 3 of 17 shooting in the fourth

``I think maybe certain situations you have to step up and do a little more,'' Catchings said. ``We did well in the first quarter, second quarter, and that third quarter, we just went a little haywire. I think me just getting the ball, calming everybody down, getting people where they need to be, attacking the basket, from there the game just revolved around that.''

Scholanda Robinson, Danielle Robinson and Perkins each scored 10 points for the Silver Stars (13-11), who lost for the sixth time in their last eight games. San Antonio started the season 5-1.

``We didn't shoot the ball well, no one did,'' Hammon said. ``It was a rough, rough night from the floor.''

Hammon shot 1 for 8 and scored six points.

Katie Douglas' - the Fever's second-leading scorer, didn't attempt a field goal or score a point. But she was on Hammon all night.

``When you look at the stat line, you say `Katie didn't score,' " Dunn said. ``But look at Becky's stat line. That's thanks to Douglas.''

Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes was ejected with 4:02 left in the game when he got a second technical for arguing a foul call against Young. He earned his first with 1:25 left in the second quarter for protesting when no foul was called after Robinson's shot was blocked.

The Silver Stars limited Indiana to only seven points in the third quarter, holding Catchings without a field-goal attempt, and led 54-50 going into the fourth.

``I think what she's done is she's attacking the basket more, she's pacing herself a little more,'' Indiana coach Lin Dunn said. ``I think she has a tremendous will to win.''

• Fever: --
• Silver Stars: --

• Fever: --
• Silver Stars: Hughes, Hughes

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
• Officials: #17 Scott Twardoski, #25 Marcus Clayton, #43 Brenda Pantoja
• Attendance: 6358
• Duration: 1:55