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Fever-Liberty Preview

Sep 7, 2009 - 11:54 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Indiana (21-10) at New York (12-19), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Indiana Fever are back at full strength as they prepare for the postseason.

They're still in contention for the best record in the WNBA as they open a three-game road trip to close the regular season against the New York Liberty, who have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Indiana (21-10) has already clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference, and trails Phoenix by one-half game for home-court advantage for a possible meeting in the WNBA finals. The Fever have never reached the finals, and have been eliminated by Detroit in each of the last three postseasons.

They got Katie Douglas back Sunday in a 72-61 win over Washington in their regular-season home finale. Douglas, who had missed the previous two games with an ankle injury, finished with 12 points.

Tamika Catchings scored 20 points and rookie reserve Briann January added 16 as Indiana finished a perfect 11-0 at home within the Eastern Conference.

"Tonight, we were really focused," Catchings said. "Our energy level was a lot higher than in the last four games. Having Katie back was good."

January is averaging 14.3 points over her last three games. She's averaging 6.9 overall, good for fifth-most on a team with four players averaging in double figures.

"That's Fever basketball - drive and kick, create something," January said. "We have so many scorers. That's what I was trying to do."

After completing a four-game season series sweep of the Mystics, Indiana will try to complete a three-game sweep of New York (12-19) on Tuesday. The Fever have won four straight and eight of nine against the Liberty.

Catchings averaged 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in a home-and-home sweep of New York from June 26-27. She also hit a 3-pointer that forced overtime in an 82-81 win at Madison Square Garden on June 26.

The Liberty are assured of missing the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history after losing 88-85 in overtime loss at Connecticut on Friday. New York blew a nine-point lead with 4:49 left in regulation.

"Breakdowns," New York coach Anne Donovan said. "We had turnovers."

Shameka Christon led New York with 22 points, and Essence Carson had 16. It was a poor effort from Janel McCarville, who had seven points and six rebounds in 30 minutes.

New York nearly reached the WNBA finals last year, losing to eventual champion Detroit in the conference finals in three games.

This year, the Liberty would be headed to the WNBA draft lottery if they had a first-round pick. They don't, having dealt it to Los Angeles on May 5 for Sidney Spencer, who is averaging 2.4 points.