Fever-Mystics Preview

By JOSH SCHUR
Posted Jun 14 2012 6:00PM

The Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics are both looking to put an end to losing streaks Friday night, and the best way to do that may be with a more balanced scoring attack.

A season-high 31 points from reigning MVP Tamika Catchings was not enough to push the Fever (4-2) past Connecticut last Friday. Indiana watched the game slowly slip away after Catchings went down in the third quarter due to an elbow to the face from teammate Tammy Sutton-Brown.

Catchings would not return for a few minutes, and the Sun quickly took advantage, going on a big run en route to handing the Fever their second straight loss after four consecutive wins to open the season.

To get back on the winning track, Indiana knows it is going to need contributions from every player and not just depend on Catchings and Katie Douglas, who chipped in with 23 points. Outside of Briann January's nine points, no other Fever player scored more than four.

"You can't win with one or two players," Sutton-Brown said, "We're going to need all 11 of us to be successful."

Washington (1-5) is in the midst of a four-game slide, but has maintained a sense of optimism despite the slow start. While its record may be discouraging, two of its losses have come by just two points. The Mystics are confident they can win games like that going forward.

"We're doing a lot of good things, and we need to continue to do the same stuff like talk defensively and help each other, it just comes down to the plays at the end of the game, taking care of the ball, executing and finishing out games," guard Noelle Quinn said.

One thing that doesn't need improvement is the play of the team's leading scorer, Crystal Langhorne, who is averaging 17.2 points and 6.7 rebounds. Even more importantly, she's making the most of her opportunities, converting on 58.6 percent of her shots, good for fourth-best in the league.

"Right now, Lang's playing extremely well, shooting a high percentage from the floor. Her defense has improved. She's leading the way so we have to have our veterans step up and be consistent," said coach Trudi Lacey.

Outside of Langhorne, however, the Mystics are going to need more help on the offensive end. They are scoring just 69.5 points, ranking 11th out of 12 teams.

If Washington is going to be successful, it will also need to tighten up its long-range defense. The club is allowing a league-worst 43.5 shooting percentage from beyond the arc - particularly bad news with Catchings coming off a performance that saw her make a season-high six 3-pointers.

Catchings is shooting a career-high 48.4 percent from long range so far, while the Fever are averaging 82.8 points per game, third-highest total in the league.

This is the first of four meetings between the two teams this season. The Fever won all five contests last year.

Langhorne scores 22, Mystics hold off Fever 67-66

Posted Jun 15 2012 10:55PM

WASHINGTON (AP) Crystal Langhorne had 22 points and 13 rebounds and the Washington Mystics held off the Indiana Fever 67-66 Friday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

Matee Ajavon added 15 in her first start of the season for the Mystics (2-6), who had an 11-point lead in the second half before Indiana made a run in the fourth quarter.

``We made some mistakes down the stretch, but it's a relief to pull off the win,'' said Langhorne, who shot 7 for 11 from the field.

Tamika Catchings scored 15 points and Tammy Sutton-Brown had 13 for the Fever (4-3), who lost their third straight.

Catchings had a shot to win it, but her 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2 seconds left bounced off the rim. Katie Douglas got the rebound along the baseline, but her one-hander missed at the buzzer.

``We missed so many shots throughout the game, and me personally, I missed a lot of layups a lot of open shots,'' Catchings said. ``You've got to credit them, they did a great job tonight.''

Catchings, the league's third-leading scorer (21.5 ppg), shot just 4 for 14.

Washington, which had lost four straight by average of 4.5 points, led by six at halftime and 10 after three quarters before the Fever rallied.

``It happens when you play a great team. They're gonna respond,'' Mystics coach Trudi Lacey said. ``They punched and we punched back. We got stops when we needed to and made plays down the stretch. That's what had been missing in these close losses.''

Catchings hit a 3 with 6:55 left to play to pull Indiana within five and the Fever were still down five when Sutton-Brown was fouled on a drive and converted the three-point play to make 63-61 with 2:46 left.

Indiana had several chances to tie it, but Jeanette Pohlen missed a jumper and, after a loose ball foul gave the ball back to the Fever, Catchings missed twice from inside.

Washington then got baskets from Michelle Snow and Shannon Bobbitt around a free throw by Catchings to go up 67-62, but Indiana rallied one last time.

Briann January hit two free throws and, after a Washington timeout, the Mystics were unable to inbound the ball and turned it over. Pohlen's layup made it 67-66 with 28 seconds to play.

After a miss by Snow miss, the Fever had the game's final possession.

Both teams shot 37 percent from the field, but the Fever missed nine free throws and were outrebounded, 41-32.

Bobbitt, who was signed by Washington on Wednesday, was with Indiana during preseason, but was released before the season started. She provided a spark off the bench in her Mystics debut, finishing with eight points and five assists off the bench.

``I always tell everyone, one team's trash is another team's treasure and I was just able to come out and compete against a team that cut me,'' Bobbitt said. ``I love those girls and the Fever's a great team, and I just wanted to help the team I'm on.''

After Natasha Lacy scored to put the Mystics ahead 21-19 with 6:43 left in the second quarter, Ajavon scored five straight points - on a 3-pointer and a driving layup - to make it 26-19.

The Fever got within three with under a minute left, but Ajavon's 3 with 11 seconds to go put Washington ahead 37-31 at halftime.

• Fever: --
• Mystics: --

• Fever: --
• Mystics: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #55 Eric Brewton, #57 Donald Hudson, #45 Tom Mauer
• Attendance: 8050
• Duration: 2:10