Fever 82 - 106 Sky
Final
  for this game

Fever-Sky Preview

Aug 3, 2015 - 6:46 PM The Indiana Fever's recent surge has gotten them back into a tight race in the Eastern Conference. They'll have to solve the Chicago Sky in order to keep that going.

Indiana looks to avoid a four-game season sweep when it visits suburban Chicago on Tuesday night.

The Fever (11-8) have won three in a row and eight of 10 following a tough start, beating Connecticut 83-70 on Sunday. Shenise Johnson scored all 16 of her points in the second half as Indiana overcame a nine-point deficit at the break.

Coach Stephanie White was most encouraged by the performance of Erlana Larkins, who has been battling knee pain after suffering an injury playing in Turkey during the WNBA offseason. Larkins missed eight games in June but is finding her groove after finishing with season highs of 10 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.

"I'm not sure if she'll be 100 percent this season," White told the team's official website. "But what she showed (Sunday) is exactly why she is such an important piece of what we do.

"(It is) her toughness, her mentality that she won't be denied. … She's just a huge piece of the puzzle for us."

Larkins wasn't much of a factor in the first meeting with Chicago before missing the next two. The Sky (12-8) beat the Fever 95-72 on June 5 behind 31 points from Elena Delle Donne, then crushed them again 98-72 on June 14 as Delle Donne scored 24.

Cappie Pondexter had 23 points in Chicago's 83-77 victory June 26. The Sky have won five straight matchups and are seeking their first season sweep of Indiana.

Chicago snapped a two-game skid Sunday as Delle Donne scored the last of her 22 points on a go-ahead runner with 19 seconds remaining for a 69-68 win over Washington.

Jessica Breland had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Sky, who have won seven of 10 and trail New York by 1 1/2 games for the East lead. Indiana is two games back in fourth.

Erika de Souza made her first start in three appearances for Chicago since being acquired from Atlanta in a three-team trade that sent the disgruntled Sylvia Fowles to Minnesota. De Souza finished with four points and 10 rebounds.

"I don't even know who (in the East) played (Sunday) or who won," coach Pokey Chatman said. "I just know what we have to do because I have enough on this roster and in my locker room to beat any team."

The Sky lead the league with 84.6 points per game, nearly six more than any other team. Delle Donne is the league's leading scorer at 24.6.

Indiana is allowing opponents to shoot 43.9 percent from the field, ranking 10th in the 12-team league. Chicago is sixth at 42.9, but its 80.7 points allowed per game is the worst mark in the WNBA.








  • INDIANA: 82
    CHICAGO: 106
    Final

    Jul 1 3:41 PM


  • INDIANA: 82
    CHICAGO: 106
    Final

    Aug 4 10:12 PM


  • End of 4th Quarter.

    Aug 4 10:12 PM


  • End of 3rd Quarter.

    Aug 4 9:47 PM


  • INDIANA: 57
    CHICAGO: 84
    End of 3rd

    Aug 4 9:47 PM


  • End of 1st Half.

    Aug 4 9:04 PM


  • INDIANA: 40
    CHICAGO: 57
    Halftime

    Aug 4 9:03 PM


  • End of 1st Quarter.

    Aug 4 8:34 PM


  • INDIANA: 22
    CHICAGO: 31
    End of 1st

    Aug 4 8:34 PM
  • 18
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 6 roots

    Fever 18, Sky 17  1st - 4:26Aug 4 8:22 PM
  • 12
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 7 roots

    Fever 4, Sky 4  1st - 8:26Aug 4 8:13 PM


  • Natalie Achonwa vs. Elena Delle Donne (Tamika Catchings gains possession)

    Aug 4 8:10 PM


  • INDIANA: 0
    CHICAGO: 0
    1st Quarter - 10:00

    Aug 4 8:10 PM
  • 5
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 5 roots

    Fever 0, Sky 0  1st - 10:00Aug 4 8:10 PM