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Storm-Fever Preview

Jun 16, 2010 - 6:32 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Seattle (9-1) at Indiana (6-4), 7:00 p.m. EDT

To add to their best start in franchise history, the Seattle Storm will have to endure a grueling four-day stretch that begins with a trip to face the WNBA's best defensive team in the Indiana Fever.

In the first game of their nearly 5,000-mile journey Thursday night, the Storm will try to earn a sixth consecutive victory and help Brian Agler become the eighth coach in league history to reach 100 wins.

The Storm (9-1) have played once in the past 10 days, an 82-60 home win over Los Angeles on Friday night, but their schedule gets much busier as this week concludes. After taking on the Fever, Seattle plays in New York on Friday night before hosting San Antonio on Sunday night

"It will be a good challenge for us," guard Sue Bird told the Storm's official website. "It's two of the better teams in the East right now, on their home court. I'm definitely looking forward to it."

The Storm have forged the WNBA's best record with nearly five players averaging in double figures, led by Lauren Jackson's 20.4 points, and they've scored 86.4 per game during their five consecutive wins.

The Storm are also giving up an average of 72.9 points on 41.1 percent shooting, good for second-best in the WNBA in both categories.

Indiana, though, is allowing 69.8 points per game on 39.9 percent shooting and has given up an average of 66.8 points while winning four of five this month.

The Fever (6-4) matched their season high for points allowed and blew a fourth-quarter lead in Friday night's 86-77 loss in Connecticut but thwarted another Sun comeback two days later in a 77-67 win at Conseco Fieldhouse.

While winning its fourth straight at home, Indiana limited Connecticut to 36.1 percent shooting but saw an 18-point lead evaporate with 7:04 remaining. Tamika Catchings responded by scoring 12 of her team's final 17 points.

"It was just a matter of having that will power like we're not going to lose," Catchings said.

The forward, scoring a team-leading 16.9 points per game, has averaged 10.3 points on 26.0 percent shooting over her last three games against the Storm.

She missed 10 of 12 attempts in last season's home matchup with Seattle but was 9 of 12 from the free-throw line and scored 14 points in a 73-66 win. Katie Douglas, averaging 17.6 points and shooting 50.8 percent this month, had a team-best 20.

Seattle hasn't won six in a row since Aug. 18-Sept. 1, which included a 74-60 home victory over Indiana. The Storm, though, have dropped four of five at Indiana since 2004.