WNBA: Catchings just misses triple-double as Fever beat Sun 95-61
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
Tamika Catchings didn’t know she almost had a triple-double until it was too late.
Seriously.
Catchings fell just short of the rare feat, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in Indiana’s 95-61 win over the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night.
She sat down for good 3:29 remaining, missing her shot at just the fifth triple-double in WNBA history. The last one was on May 21, 2005, by Deanna Nolan of the Detroit Shock.
Catchings realized what happened while resting in the locker room after the game.
“I was like, ‘Why didn’t ˜yall tell me,’” she said, laughing.
Indiana set a franchise record with 15 3-pointers and just missed the WNBA record of 16.
“We were knocking down open shots tonight,” Catchings said. “It hasn’t been falling the last couple games. It was good to kind of get that streak back going. Everybody was playing with a lot of confidence.”
Briann January scored 20 points and Katie Douglas added 17 as Indiana produced its largest margin of victory in the long-running series with the Sun and the team’s third-largest victory margin in any game. The Fever had dropped four of their previous five games, including an 88-85 loss at Connecticut on Tuesday.
Mistie Mims scored 11 points and Kara Lawson and Ashja Jones added 10 for the Sun. Tina Charles, the league’s No. 3 scorer, was held to six points on 3-for-11 shooting.
It was a chippy game that featured five technical fouls, including four against the Sun. Connecticut coach Mike Thibault was ejected in the third quarter for arguing with officials.
The Fever scored the game’s first 10 points. Zellous scored 11 points in the opening quarter to help the Indiana take a 25-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“They looked like a team that was excited to play us after the game in Connecticut,” Thibault said. “They competed better than us right from the get go.”
Then, the Fever really got rolling.
Powered by an 11-point second quarter from Douglas, Indiana led 57-30 at halftime. The Fever made 11 of 14 shots in the second quarter. The Fever made nine 3-pointers in the first half, a franchise record for a half. The 57 points tied for the second-most in a half in franchise history. Three Fever players – Douglas, Zellous and January – scored in double figures in the first half. The Fever held Charles to two points and three rebounds before the break.
“It was a well-played first half,” Indiana coach Lin Dunn said. “We did things we had talked about. Our defense set the tone for us.”
Indiana didn’t score for the first 3:40 of the third quarter, but the Fever had a nice cushion to work with.
Thibault was ejected after his second technical foul. The Fever led 69-49 at the end of the third quarter.
Jeanette Pohlen’s 3-pointer in the final minute gave the Fever the team record for threes.
“You know, today was their day,” Mims said. “They came out very aggressive and created a real big hole that had us on our heels.”
The Fever also celebrated the 40-year anniversary of Title IX.
Former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh co-authored the legislation, which ensured equality for women across all educational platforms, including sports. It was signed into law June 23, 1972.
Fever COO and GM Kelly Krauskopf honored Bayh, known as the Father of Title IX, during a pregame on-court ceremony before the game.
Ann Meyers, vice president of the Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, was featured in an on-court arena interview at halftime. Meyers was the first woman to sign an NBA free agent contract, reaching an agreement with the Indiana Pacers in 1979.
WNBA president Laurel Richie called Indiana’s celebration special.
Douglas said she appreciates what Title IX has meant in her life.
“Without Title IX, I don’t think any of us would be here, the WNBA wouldn’t be here, so it’s definitely a good moment to recognize Title IX and I’m just happy that it was passed years and years ago and just proud to be supporting it.”
Also:
Behind the scenes in the Month of May in Indy:
http://www.indysportslegends.com/behind-scenes-month-may-indianapolis-motor-speedway/
My 10 favorite stadium shots through the years: from Butler to Beijing:
http://www.indysportslegends.com/my-10-favorite-stadium-shots/
