Indiana Fever defeat Atlanta Dream 80-66 to even record
By MADDIE DECKERS
ISL Correspondent
Note: Deckers is a high school junior in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is an aspiring sports writer and covers the Indiana Fever and Indianapolis Colts on her own blog, Sports by Maddie.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream, 80 – 66 Saturday night, bringing them within 1 1/2 games of the Dream for second place in the Eastern Conference standings as they enter the last month before the WNBA playoffs. Indiana now has an 11-11 record.
After losing Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks, the Fever were hoping to redeem themselves.
Guard Erin Phillips got her first start of the season, as Shavonte Zellous was out with plantar fasciitis.
The Dream scored the first points of the game, but the Fever answered with three consecutive 3-pointers of their own. After that, the score bounced back and forth between the two teams before the Fever finally took the lead, 16 – 10, with 4:30 remaining in the first quarter, and never looked back. The Fever continuously played good defense, and shut down the Dream’s offense, including forcing two shot clock violations.
Despite missing almost half the season with a torn right meniscus and a having a rough return so far, Phillips scored 15 points and made 5 of 7 3-pointers. Whenever the Dream would try to catch up, Phillips would throw up another 3-pointer and hold them off. The Fever kept them at bay and led at the half, 46 – 37.
In their last game, the Fever struggled both offensively and defensively, never finding their rhythm and giving away the game. But last night, the Fever showed major improvement as they got and kept a double-digit lead for most of the third quarter.
The Dream went on a scoring run that brought them to within four points, but the Fever held the lead lead, 61 – 57, at the end of the third.
Less than three minutes into the fourth quarter, the Fever pushed the lead back up to 67 – 57 and controlled the rest of the game.
This was one of the Fever’s better-played games this season, and it was their first win against the Dream this year. They were more organized, had fewer turnovers, and played more like the 2012 Fever.
Some notable statistics on the night:
-The Fever had 32 total rebounds, including 11 from Erlana Larkins.
-Phillips and Karima Christmas both got 15 points for the night, which was Phillips’ season high. However, they were not able to catch up to Tamika Catchings, who had 21.
-There were four Fever players with double-digit scoring, as Briann January had 13 points.
-Of the eight 3-pointers scored during the game, five of them came from Phillips.
The Fever’s next game will be at the Phoenix Mercury on Aug. 14. The next Fever home game will be Aug. 21st against the San Antonio Silver Stars.
