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Mystics-Fever Preview

Jul 30, 2010 - 3:32 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Washington (13-9) at Indiana (16-7), 7:00 p.m. EDT

When the Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics met less than a week ago, the Eastern Conference lead was at stake. Both teams have gone in opposite directions since.

The host Fever look for their sixth straight win Friday night when they try to hand the stumbling Mystics a fourth straight loss.

Indiana (16-7) entered last Saturday's matchup at the Verizon Center with a one-half game lead over Washington (13-10) and emerged with a 78-73 victory - the Fever's first in three tries against the Mystics this year.

Briann January was successful in her first start in 14 games with a season-high 19 points, making 14 of 15 free throws. January scored 15 in Tuesday's 78-74 home win over Chicago.

"Bri has been great," Indiana forward Tamika Catchings said. "She's bringing a lot to our team. She continues to build off that and continues to be such an instrumental part of our success."

The Fever now lead the East by one game over Atlanta. The Mystics, meanwhile, have dropped three games back into a third-place tie with Connecticut, with New York lurking one game further behind for one of the conference's final playoff spots.

Indiana nearly blew a 21-point lead Tuesday, when Catchings, January and Katie Douglas combined for 16 of the team's 20 turnovers.

"All of the mistakes we made were mental, things we can correct, which I think is a positive note," January said.

Catchings had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the 65th double-double of her career, tying her for seventh in league history.

"The one thing I want over all of this, everybody already knows: a championship," Catchings said. "It doesn't matter how many more double-doubles I get, but if we get that championship, that would exceed all."

Indiana is trying to win six straight for the first time since a franchise-record 11-game run June 9-July 17, 2009.

Washington suffered its fifth loss in six games Thursday, falling 79-75 to San Antonio.

"It's tough to lose at home, especially a game where you really felt like we had a chance to win," said Monique Currie, who had 22 points to lead the Mystics. "We just have to continue to fight and be ready to play tomorrow night."

This is the Mystics' second trip of the year to Conseco Fieldhouse. They spoiled the Fever's home opener with a 72-65 win May 15, as Currie scored 21 on a night when Indiana raised its conference championship banner.