GAME HIGHLIGHTS • Jewell Loyd hit her first five field goals, including two three-pointers, en route to finishing with a gamehigh 25 points. This marked her sixth game of the season with 20 points or more.

KEY STATS OF THE GAME • Defense played key in tonight’s win for the Storm. Seattle held Indiana to just eight points in the second quarter, which set a season-low for points in a quarter for any opponent (9 at Los Angeles, 6/7); 30 points in the first half, a season-low for any opponent in the first half (32 vs. Las Vegas, 5/31); and just 34.7 percent shooting, a season-low for an opponent’s field goal percentage (37.3 at Los Angeles, 6/7).

STORM HIGHLIGHTS • Breanna Stewart, who entered tonight’s game leading the WNBA in scoring with 22.2 points per game, finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds. • Natasha Howard just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. She also tied a season-high with four blocks, which she achieved earlier this season on 5/25 vs. Chicago. • Sue Bird dished out five or more assists for the eighth time this season. She also recorded a seasonhigh three steals. • Sue Bird tied her career-high with 2 blocks (5 times). • Breanna Stewart tied a season-high with three steals, all of which came in the first half. • Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis collected two-straight starts for the first time in her career. She finished with five points and three rebounds. • At the 9:13 mark of the second quarter, Courtney Paris collected her 100th-career steal. • Natasha Howard earned career assist No. 100 with 6:50 left to play in the first quarter on a pass to Jewell Loyd. • Seattle committed just nine fouls tonight, which ties for third-fewest all time in franchise history (9 at PHO, 6/22/01; 9 vs. SAC, 8/25/03). • The Storm played without Alysha Clark (right ankle) for the second-straight game. • With the win, Seattle improved to 14-5 all-time at home against Indiana. This record (.737) ranks second for the Storm’s best winning percentage against any WNBA team at home. The only percentage that tops this mark is Seattle’s 15-4 (.789) home record against the Washington Mystics.

FEVER HIGHLIGHTS • Candice Dupree registered 15 points and seven rebounds. • Rookie Kelsey Mitchell posted 11 points. • In 25 minutes off the bench, Erica Wheeler booked 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. • Indiana outscored Seattle by three (19-16) in the final 10 minutes. • The Fever forced Seattle to a season-high 20 turnovers, converting those miscues into 17 points. • After falling behind 7-0, Indiana responded with a 24-16 run to take its first lead (24-23) of the game at the 8:34 mark of the second frame after a layup by Natalie Achonwa.

STORM COACH DAN HUGHES

(On the game as a whole) “It was one of our better defensive games. I thought we got good shots and we were assisting and the ball was moving good. The part that gave me confidence was that I felt defensively that was probably one of our better efforts of the season. It led to us being able to play in transition a little bit. We were sloppy with the ball at times. We did get good shots and moved the ball really well. Jewell was very effective and Stewie [Breanna Stewart] as well. We wanted to go into the paint and we did go into the paint with the basketball and create there, then let the three’s come as a reaction to us playing in the paint.”

(On having Sue back in the starting lineup tonight) “I think there is a reason why she is leading the league in assists. There are two things: You can’t replace her mind for the game, but you can’t replace how many receivers she sees and the way the ball is delivered to them. I’ve been around a lot of good basketball players and good guards, but I’ve never seen one that put the ball right where the shooter wants it. Either the finish on the move or going into the shot. When you know that, and you are playing with somebody like that, you space better, you cut harder. These players know! I enjoyed watching her and Jordan play together tonight, too.”

(On continuing the success from the home stretch onto the road) “I see it as life in the WNBA to be honest with you. There was some good, obviously, there was some where we had to deal with injury. There was some where we didn’t play to our strengths. We could’ve found a way to be better, but I think it really taught us the reality of having to play when you lose a starter or two. We kind of grew. It’s just reality in the league. Other teams are having to deal with it. The league is sturdy enough and you have to play basketball in those situations where you are the next player up.”

STORM FORWARD JEWELL LOYD

(On having Sue Bird play) “It’s nice having someone who has played the game forever, [Sue Bird] knows everything. She knows the game so well, she picks up on things quickly and you can that having her makes a difference. Our core group we have been playing together for a while and we know how to play with each other. We know each other, sometimes I don’t even have to look at Stewie [Breanna Stewart] to know what she is about to do. All of the new people have done a great job of filling in and picking up on things quickly but playing with our core makes it just a little bit easier.”

(On the past two games) “I clearly shot the ball better, but we have people on this team who can go for 20 every night. It is not just me and I am willing to give up the ball and make good plays when I need to.

STORM FORWARD BREANNA STEWART 

(On heading on the road) “We are heading back to Dallas and we want to get this win, we lost on our court last time we played them. This time we are heading out with a little bit of vengeance. Then we will play Minnesota for the first time this year and know that every time and we go into their house it is a battle and a tough game. We are going to be prepared for it. We are on road a lot more than we are at home in the next few weeks and we still need to collect wins and get it done.”

(On the close games) “This year is super condensed, even compared to the Olympic year and for us we are able to be a little more prepared because we did the seven games in 15 during August. We know how it goes, we have to be mentally prepared. We know that our bodies will not feel that best, but we still need to get out there and be get it done and leave it all on the court.”

(On the end of the homestand) “We wanted to go 5-0, we don’t like to lose at home. Especially knowing how rough July will be, with being on the road. With our fans behind us we want to get those wins because we know it’s hard for other people to play when they come to Key because of the fans.”

FEVER HEAD COACH POKEY CHATMAN

(On the game) “Our transition defense was atrocious and that was the downfall. We forced them into 20 turnovers and made them uncomfortable when we forced them to play in the half court, but didn’t give ourselves enough opportunities with that. There are a few things that go along with that – when you take a shot out of rhythm, that’s one part. When you turn it over, that’s the second part. And then when you don’t follow the rules of when on the rise of the shot, one and two sprint back. That was the trifecta and they’re a good team. I thought there were some quality things that we got early on and we need to have the mindset to continue doing that. I’ll always give credit to the opposition – it’s not that, but there were some times where we didn’t do those things I mentioned. The areas that were positive I just can’t really talk about a whole lot.”
(On her message to the team at this point in the season) “The message is you have to get it done for longer periods of time. People will need to beat you – don’t do yourself in. You start with that. And because of the way the schedule is laid out, we have an opportunity to right things rather soon after the cross-country flight. Land, rest and get ready for another good team (Connecticut). You look at the video and look at the things that are X’s and O’s, then look at the things that are mind, heart, body and you go to work the next day and make good on it.”

FEVER FORWARD CANDICE DUPREE 

(On the game) “I thought we did well guarding in the half court, but we gave up way too many points in transition. We can’t have that. We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball – we turned it over too much, which led to some easy run outs. We also have to do a better job of matching up and knowing … that you’ve got to stop the ball and fill in behind.”
(On the difference between the first half and second half) “We were probably hitting shots. I don’t even know how we hung in there. I think we hit more shots in the first half than we did in the second half. We got up more attempts than Seattle, but we have to know the difference between a good shot and a bad shot. If it’s a bad shot, chances are that it’s a miss and they’re going to get the ball and run out. I think that’s what killed us in the second half.”
(On what her message is to a much younger team) “Just to let them know I’ve been there. My rookie year, I won four games in Chicago. I know what it’s like. It kind of sucks to be on the tail end of your career and losing like that, but I’m here for a reason and that’s to help these players grow. I try to keep them engaged as much as possible, even if that means taking them to dinner and hanging out with them. I know most of them come from winning programs so it’s not easy to come here and lose, but it’s baby steps. Like coach has said, we’re not young any more. We’re 13 games in and it’s time to grow up. We’re shooting ourselves in the foot and need to find a way to fix it.”