Fever-Sun Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Sep 01 2011 3:24PM

The Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun clinched postseason berths their last time out. Neither team, however, has played like a championship contender of late.

The Fever and Sun will both be trying to avoid a third consecutive loss when the Eastern Conference's top two teams meet Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Indiana (19-10) saw its chances of passing Minnesota for the top spot in the league take a huge hit Tuesday, as Atlanta completed a home-and-home sweep of the Fever with a 92-90 win.

Indiana, loser of three of four, led by five late but committed one of its 19 turnovers - 10 more than the Dream - with 7.9 seconds to go. That led to Sancho Lyttle's winning jumper with 0.9 seconds remaining.

The Fever did secure a seventh consecutive playoff berth with Chicago's loss to New York the same night.

"I think we played hard, just not smart in certain situations," said Tamika Catchings, who had 21 points and seven rebounds.

The Fever trail the Lynx by 4 1/2 games with five to play. While their chances of earning the top overall seed are slim, they can inch closer to locking up the No. 1 seed in the East by continuing their season-long success against the Sun.

Indiana has taken three of four from Connecticut (18-12) and held it to a season-low point total in a 69-58 road victory July 28. The Fever limited Tina Charles to 13 points and 5-of-16 shooting.

Charles wasn't very efficient from the floor Tuesday night either, scoring 16 points but going 5 of 17 as Connecticut fell 78-66 at San Antonio - its fourth loss in six games.

The Sun also clinched a playoff berth thanks to the Sky's defeat, but coach Mike Thibault was less than thrilled with his team's effort.

"It doesn't feel real good," Thibault said. "You'd rather win to get in. I don't like backing in. We knew we were going to get in eventually, but it's not a fun way to have it happen."

While the Sun have dropped four straight on the road, they've won four in a row at home while averaging 95.3 points - 14.7 more than their season mark.

Connecticut, back in the postseason for the first time since 2008, hasn't lost three straight since a four-game skid July 30-Aug. 5, 2010.

Indiana fell 76-71 to the Sun on July 17, part of a season-high three-game losing streak. Catchings had 18 points and a season best-tying 15 boards.

Charles leads Sun to 83-55 win over Fever

Posted Sep 02 2011 11:11PM

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Tina Charles playfully tried to talk her way back into the lineup after the third period Friday night.

She made the most of her opportunity when Connecticut Sun coach Mike Thibault relented and put her back in.

Charles recorded the fifth triple-double in WNBA history with 10 points, 10 assists and 16 rebounds, leading the Sun to an 83-55 victory over the Indiana Fever.

Thibault had removed Charles at the end of the third period when she was one assist shy of a triple double.

``She had eight assists at halftime. It wasn't hard to keep track,'' Thibault said. ``I said 'you'll get your chance.'''

It was the first triple double in franchise history and the first in the league since May 21, 2005, when Deanna Nolan of the Detroit Shock had a triple-double at Connecticut.

Her 10th assist came with 8:25 remaining on Jessica Moore's jumper.

``We're getting to the time of year where it's time to start making better decisions,'' Charles said. ``I didn't want to force shots. I just passed. My teammates made the shots.''

Connecticut (19-12) moved within a half-game of first-place Indiana (19-11) and a step closer to earning homecourt in at least the first round of the playoffs.

``Coach told us on the bus ride to the airport (Wednesday in San Antonio) that last year at this time we were miserable because we weren't going to the playoffs,'' Charles said. ``He made us feel like things could always be worse and that this season is different.''

Danielle McCray scored 14 points, Kara Lawson added 12 and Asjha Jones had 10 for the Sun.

``We were locked in,'' Thibault said.

Katie Douglas had 12 points and Tamika Catchings had 11 for the Fever (19-11).

Connecticut's lead never went below double digits in the second half. The Sun led by as many as 31.

Charles also set a franchise record for made field goals in a season, sinking her 224th midway through the first half to eclipse Jones' mark of 223 set in 2008.

The Sun made six of 12 three-point field goals in the first half and shot 53 percent (19 of 36) overall. The Sun assisted on 18 of their 19 field goals and led 48-33 at halftime.

``I give Connecticut a lot of credit,'' Indiana coach Lin Dunn said. ``They played with an enormous amount of urgency. It looked like they were fighting for first place.''

• Fever: --
• Sun: --

• Fever: --
• Sun: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• Officials: #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #39 Michael Price, #34 Maj Forsberg
• Attendance: 6991
• Duration: 1:47