Liberty-Fever Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jun 01 2012 2:02PM

The Indiana Fever and New York Liberty have for the most part been regular participants in the Eastern Conference playoffs over the last several years.

While Indiana is hoping to finally realize its championship aspirations, New York likely needs to turn things around quickly if it plans to contend.

In a rematch of last season's conference semifinals, the unbeaten Fever look to match their best start in franchise history Saturday night against the visiting Liberty, who try to avoid opening 0-5 for the first time in the opener of this home-and-home set.

Coming off its seventh consecutive postseason appearance, Indiana (3-0) looks primed to make a deep run in 2012. Led by reigning league MVP Tamika Catchings, the Fever are enjoying their best start since winning their first four games in both 2006 and 2007.

"I want to win a championship," she said. "For me, every single game, every single practice is about trying to help this team get better and get closer to our final goal."

While Indiana has its sights set on winning it all, New York is just hoping to get in the win column.

After making the playoffs six of the last eight years, it's safe to say the Liberty have their work cut out. New York was blown out 100-74 at Atlanta on May 25, matching their 0-4 start from 2006 when they went a franchise-worst 11-23.

"To be honest, tonight might have been one of the worst performances of my career, but I am staying positive," said Cappie Pondexter, who scored a team-high 18 points. "I am upset inside and I need to do a personal assessment, but we have (a few) days off to come back with a new mindset."

The Fever split four regular-season matchups with the Liberty last season before knocking them out of the playoffs and ultimately falling to Atlanta in the conference finals. Indiana, though, posted its second win over the Dream this season Sunday by 78-62 score.

Catchings had a game-high 25 points to go along with 12 rebounds and Katie Douglas scored 16 for the Fever, who had to battle back from an early 11-point deficit. Although Indiana had little issue the rest of the way, Catchings knows her team needs to bring it from the opening tip.

"I know for me and speaking for the rest of us, looking at this season and knowing what we want to do, ultimately our goal is to win a championship," Catchings said. "I thought our energy was really low to start the game. I don't know if because it was an early game or whatever the case may be, but we can't afford to have starts like that."

Douglas averaged 19.4 points - significantly higher than her career mark of 13.3 - against New York last season, including 22.0 in the playoffs.

These teams meet again Sunday at the Prudential Center.

Fever keep Liberty winless with rout

Posted Jun 02 2012 9:18PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Tamika Catchings scored 16 points to help the Indiana Fever defeat the New York Liberty 91-68 on Saturday night.

Roneeka Hodges scored 15 points, Jeanette Pohlen added 12 and Katie Douglas had 11 for Indiana (4-0). The Fever made 13 of 26 3-pointers while New York made 5 of 17. The Fever made 22 of 27 free throws and committed just 12 turnovers.

Indiana's reserves outscored New York's 52-18.

Plenette Pierson scored 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting for the Liberty (0-5). Cappie Pondexter, New York's leading scorer, finished with 13 points on 4-for-15 shooting. Pierson and Pondexter were the only Liberty players to score in double figures.

New York's past four losses have all been by double digits, by a combined 82 points. The teams play again Sunday at New York.

Indiana, which entered the game as the No. 2 scoring team in the league, shot 47 percent from the field.

The Fever shot just 6-for-19 from the field in the first quarter but made enough free throws to tie the score at 20 by the end of the period.

Indiana heated up in the second quarter making 10 of its 16 shots to take a 49-36 halftime lead. Catchings scored 14 points in the first half and Hodges scored eight off the bench in the second quarter. The Fever made 6 of 13 3-pointers in the first half.

New York cut Indiana's lead to nine points early in the third quarter before the Fever took control. A 3-pointer by Shavonte Zellous pushed Indiana's lead to 60-45 and forced the Liberty to call a timeout.

Catchings disagreed with a foul call, then made contact with an official and was issued a technical foul. New York made all three free throws to cut Indiana's lead to 12.

The Fever made 5 of 7 3-pointers in the third quarter and led 75-61 at the end of the period. Four different Indiana players - Douglas, Zellous, Erin Phillips and Hodges - made at least one 3-pointer in the quarter.

Pohlen made a 3-pointer to push the lead to 82-61 and force another timeout by New York. The Liberty went scoreless for the first 5:22 of the fourth quarter and missed their first six shots. The Liberty scored just seven points in the final period.

• Liberty: --
• Fever: --

• Liberty: --
• Fever: Catchings

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Officials: #18 Kurt Walker, #21 Byron Jarrett, #22 Tyler Ford
• Attendance: 8006
• Duration: 1:51