Mystics-Fever Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Aug 27 2012 2:12PM

The Indiana Fever have been making a push for first place since returning from the Olympic break, while the Eastern Conference-worst Washington Mystics have been heading in the opposite direction after that month-long hiatus.

Indiana goes for its fifth straight home win in this series Tuesday night when the Mystics could debut veteran forward Iziane Castro Marques.

The Fever (14-8) have gone 4-1 since the break, capping a three-game western trip with an 85-72 victory over Phoenix on Saturday. The surge has moved Indiana to within 2 1/2 games of East-leading Connecticut.

Indiana, winner of four of five at home, hosts the Mystics (5-18) for the second time this season after opening the second half with an 84-66 win over Washington on Aug. 16.

The Fever have won by an average of 19.8 points since Washington's last road victory in this series, 77-73 on July 30, 2010. That doesn't bode well for a Mystics team that owns the second-worst road record in the league at 1-10.

Washington, trailing Chicago by 4 1/2 games for the fourth and final playoff spot, is coming off an 81-69 home loss to Atlanta on Friday. The Mystics committed 18 turnovers and trailed by 28 in the third quarter.

"It was pretty tough to come back from that deficit,'' guard Matee Ajavon said after scoring 16 of her team-high 20 points in the final 4:22. "That loss is pretty hard.''

The Mystics, the WNBA's lowest-scoring team at 70.0 points per game, are hoping that the release of guard Natasha Lacy and signing of Castro Marques on Sunday will help them improve their faint playoff hopes. Castro Marques, a former Atlanta Dream player, joins the club after getting kicked off the Brazilian team during the London Games for a violation of team rules.

Castro, who shot 53.6 percent from 3-point range during the Dream's second consecutive run to the WNBA finals last season, could provide a huge lift for Washington. The Mystics are shooting 30.6 percent from beyond the arc - second worst in the league.

The Fever, hitting 45.2 percent of their 3s at home, made nine of 25 during Washington's visit earlier this month.

Indiana forward Tamika Catchings had 14 points and 14 rebounds in that contest after finishing with 15 points and nine boards in a 67-66 road loss June 15. That ended the Fever's five-game winning streak in the series.

Douglas leads Fever past Mystics 83-68

Posted Aug 28 2012 9:45PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A strong performance against the Washington Mystics has pushed the Indiana Fever a bit closer to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Katie Douglas scored 18 points to lead the Fever to an 83-68 victory over the Mystics on Tuesday night.

Tamika Catchings had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Fever (14-8), who have won five of six since returning from the Olympic break and continue their race for the No. 1 spot in the East.

Reserve Noelle Quinn had 13 points and five rebounds for the Mystics (5-18), while Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton scored 10.

The Fever went on a 10-2 run in the third quarter and led by as many as 14 points in sending the Mystics to their fifth loss in the last six games.

The Fever took a 2-1 series lead on the Mystics this season. The teams meet for the final time Sept. 21.

``We came out much better in the second half,'' Fever coach Lin Dunn said. ``We won the boards again. We are getting continued help from our bench. We are definitely benefiting from the Olympic break.''

Shavanta Zellous hit a 3-pointer to spark the run with 6:19 left in the third.

``It's all about our 11 players and each and every night somebody different provides the energy and spark for us,'' Douglas said.

While Douglas led in scoring, Zellous, at times, was the spark on her 26th birthday. She had 13 points, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

The Fever pushed it to 56-44 midway in the third quarter when Catchings was fouled on a layup at the 4:41 mark.

Douglas scored on a layup to give the Fever a 58-44 lead, their largest of the game to that point.

``I thought we played hard and it was a physical game,'' Mystics coach Trudi Lacey said. ``They made their run in the third quarter and we couldn't close it.''

Jessica Davenport made two free throws to give the Fever a five-point lead at the end of the first quarter and they went on to lead 43-37 at halftime.

``We started off well,'' Quinn said. ``Gave up too many three-point shots. In the third quarter we fell on our Achilles heel and let too many three-point baskets be made today.''

Indiana made 10 3-pointers, reaching double figures in that category for the seventh time this season.

Veteran forward Iziane Castro Marques made her first appearance with Washington when she entered the game with 30 seconds left in the first quarter. The Mystics signed the free agent on Sunday. She had four points.

NOTES: With four assists, Douglas surpassed Nikki Teasley for 15th place on the all-time career assists list. ... Indiana's 53.6 percent shooting is the second-best shooting performance this season. ... Washington's 23 rebounds is the fewest by an Indiana opponent this season.

• Mystics: --
• Fever: --

• Mystics: --
• Fever: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Officials: #25 Marcus Clayton, #39 Michael Price, #53 Jeff Smith
• Attendance: 6525
• Duration: 1:44