eight wnba playoff appearances in 12 seasons - WNBA.com
eight wnba playoff appearances in 12 seasons - WNBA.com
eight wnba playoff appearances in 12 seasons - WNBA.com
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I N D I A N A F E V E R<br />
2009 Eastern Conference F<strong>in</strong>als<br />
Game 1 – Detroit 72, Indiana 56<br />
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - For 17 m<strong>in</strong>utes, the Indiana Fever looked like the best<br />
team <strong>in</strong> the Eastern Conference.<br />
After that, they regressed back to the group that has been elim<strong>in</strong>ated by the Detroit<br />
Shock <strong>in</strong> each of the last three post<strong>seasons</strong>.<br />
After lead<strong>in</strong>g for the entire first half, the Fever only scored 19 second-half po<strong>in</strong>ts as<br />
Detroit rolled to an easy 72-56 victory <strong>in</strong> Game 1 of the Eastern Conference F<strong>in</strong>als.<br />
"I thought Detroit played like a team that wanted to w<strong>in</strong> the game more than we did,''<br />
Indiana coach L<strong>in</strong> Dunn said. "We didn't match their energy or their <strong>in</strong>tensity <strong>in</strong> the<br />
second half, and that's very disappo<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g.''<br />
Detroit, which has won <strong>12</strong> of its last 14 games after a 9-14 start, is look<strong>in</strong>g for a fourth<br />
straight trip to the <strong>WNBA</strong> f<strong>in</strong>als despite los<strong>in</strong>g Plenette Pierson (shoulder) and Katie<br />
Smith (back).<br />
The Fever led 35-24 with three m<strong>in</strong>utes left <strong>in</strong> the second quarter, but Detroit went on a<br />
11-2 run to make it a two-po<strong>in</strong>t game at halftime.<br />
"I thought we really missed a big opportunity there,'' said Katie Douglas, who led<br />
Indiana with 16 po<strong>in</strong>ts. "We started off really well, and we had them on their heels, but<br />
we let them get some confidence.''<br />
Rookie Shavonte Zellous scored 16 of her game-high 23 po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> the first half,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>12</strong> <strong>in</strong> the second quarter.<br />
The Shock kept the momentum after the break, scor<strong>in</strong>g the first six po<strong>in</strong>ts of the third<br />
quarter. They held Indiana to six third-quarter po<strong>in</strong>ts to take a 52-43 lead <strong>in</strong>to the fourth.<br />
The Fever missed 13 of 16 shots <strong>in</strong> the period and turned the ball over six times.<br />
The Fever cut the marg<strong>in</strong> to four, but Deanna Nolan scored the next six po<strong>in</strong>ts and<br />
Zellous added a three-po<strong>in</strong>t play to put Detroit ahead 63-50 with 5:09 to play. Nolan, who<br />
received a trophy before the game for her All-<strong>WNBA</strong> second-team berth, f<strong>in</strong>ished with 22<br />
po<strong>in</strong>ts.<br />
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION OFFICIAL SCORER’S REPORT<br />
09/23/2009 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hill<br />
Playoffs Game #3 FINAL BOX<br />
Officials: #4 Sue Blauch, #39 Michael Price, #7 Clarke Stevens<br />
VISITOR: Indiana Fever (0-1)<br />
Time of Game: 2:04<br />
Attendance: 7,214<br />
NO PLAYER MIN FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA OR DR TOT A PF ST TO BS PTS<br />
24 Tamika Catch<strong>in</strong>gs F 32:52 4 11 1 5 0 0 6 5 11 3 3 3 4 1 9<br />
32 Ebony Hoffman F 27:35 3 8 0 2 0 0 0 3 3 1 4 0 0 0 6<br />
8 Tammy Sutton-Brown C 33:35 5 8 0 0 4 5 1 3 4 0 4 1 1 2 14<br />
23 Katie Douglas G 34:53 6 19 4 7 0 0 1 1 2 5 1 0 2 2 16<br />
41 Tully Bevilaqua G 26:51 1 6 1 4 0 0 0 1 1 5 2 1 2 0 3<br />
31 Jessica Moore 11:45 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 3 0 2 0 1<br />
20 Briann January 19:57 3 7 0 0 1 2 1 4 5 1 2 1 3 0 7<br />
21 Tamecka Dixon 6:06 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0<br />
50 Jessica Davenport 1:41 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0<br />
14 Shay Murphy 2:35 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0<br />
34 Christ<strong>in</strong>a Wirth 2:10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0<br />
TOTALS 22 62 6 18 6 9 10 19 29 17 20 6 18 5 56<br />
PERCENTAGES 35.5% 33.3% 66.7% TM REB: 11 TOT TO: 19 (14 PTS)<br />
HOME: DETROIT SHOCK (1-0)<br />
NO PLAYER MIN FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA OR DR TOT A PF ST TO BS PTS<br />
6 Nikki Teasley F 14:37 1 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3<br />
44 Taj McWilliams F 30:05 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 5 1 3 0 1 1 4<br />
35 Cheryl Ford C 22:39 1 5 0 0 0 0 3 6 9 1 5 1 4 1 2<br />
14 Deanna Nolan G 35:42 9 18 1 5 3 3 2 0 2 1 3 3 2 1 22<br />
22 Alexis Hornbuckle G 36:28 2 9 0 1 4 4 1 5 6 4 1 2 3 2 8<br />
45 Kara Braxton 19:41 4 10 0 0 2 4 5 4 9 0 2 0 0 1 10<br />
1 Shavonte Zellous 31:44 6 16 1 1 10 11 1 3 4 5 2 1 1 1 23<br />
42 Crystal Kelly 7:23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0<br />
24 Olay<strong>in</strong>ka Sanni 1:41 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0<br />
23 Plenette Pierson DND – Right Shoulder Surgery<br />
30 Katie Smith DND – Low Back Pa<strong>in</strong><br />
TOTALS 25 65 3 9 19 22 13 23 36 13 18 7 <strong>12</strong> 8 72<br />
PERCENTAGES 38.5% 33.3% 86.4% TM REB: 10 TOT TO: 13 (9 PTS)<br />
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 FINAL<br />
Fever 18 19 6 13 56<br />
SHOCK 13 22 17 20 72<br />
Po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> the Pa<strong>in</strong>t: Fever 24, SHOCK 24 Biggest Lead: Fever 11, SHOCK 16<br />
Second Chance Po<strong>in</strong>ts: Fever 10, SHOCK 18 Lead Changes: 1<br />
Fast Break Po<strong>in</strong>ts: Fever 6, SHOCK 11 Times Tied: 1<br />
PLAYOFFS RECORD BOOK<br />
GAME RECAPS<br />
2009 Eastern Conference F<strong>in</strong>als<br />
Game 2 – Indiana 79, Detroit 75<br />
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Tamika Catch<strong>in</strong>gs went down after be<strong>in</strong>g fouled hard <strong>in</strong> the third<br />
quarter, and her teammates and more than 9,000 Indiana Fever fans waited <strong>in</strong> stunned<br />
silence to see if she'd recover.<br />
Two years ago, the Fever were <strong>in</strong> the decisive Game 3 of the Eastern Conference<br />
F<strong>in</strong>als - also aga<strong>in</strong>st the Detroit Shock - when Catch<strong>in</strong>gs went down with a torn right<br />
Achilles' tendon. A <strong>com</strong>petitive game turned <strong>in</strong>to a blowout, and Detroit cruised <strong>in</strong>to the<br />
<strong>WNBA</strong> f<strong>in</strong>als.<br />
In Game 2 of the East F<strong>in</strong>als, Catch<strong>in</strong>gs was sprawled on the ground for several<br />
m<strong>in</strong>utes with tra<strong>in</strong>ers around her. This time, she got up and made Detroit pay.<br />
Catch<strong>in</strong>gs scored 22 po<strong>in</strong>ts, and the Fever avoided elim<strong>in</strong>ation with a 79-75 w<strong>in</strong>,<br />
forc<strong>in</strong>g a decisive Game 3 at Conseco Fieldhouse.<br />
Catch<strong>in</strong>gs said her neck already was hurt<strong>in</strong>g before she was hit with 3:06 left <strong>in</strong> the<br />
third quarter. The foul on the play was charged to Alexis Hornbuckle.<br />
Catch<strong>in</strong>gs felt the contact was excessive.<br />
Catch<strong>in</strong>gs not only got up, she never left the game. She dusted herself off and made<br />
one of two free throws to cut Detroit's lead to 50-49. On Detroit's next possession,<br />
Catch<strong>in</strong>gs stole a pass, then found an open Briann January for a 3-po<strong>in</strong>ter that gave the<br />
Fever a 52-50 lead.<br />
Indiana never trailed aga<strong>in</strong>. Indiana outscored Detroit 31-25 after Catch<strong>in</strong>gs went<br />
down.<br />
Catch<strong>in</strong>gs, who earlier <strong>in</strong> the day was named the league's defensive player of the year,<br />
also had n<strong>in</strong>e rebounds, six steals and five assists.<br />
Now, the Fever will have a chance to play for a spot <strong>in</strong> the <strong>WNBA</strong> f<strong>in</strong>als, and an<br />
Indiana legend is try<strong>in</strong>g to help them pack the home arena.<br />
Katie Douglas added 14 po<strong>in</strong>ts and five steals for the Fever, who will host the decisive<br />
Game 3. Deanna Nolan led Detroit with 23 po<strong>in</strong>ts and Shavonte Zellous added 19 po<strong>in</strong>ts<br />
and n<strong>in</strong>e rebounds.<br />
Indiana set a postseason record with 18 steals and scored 28 po<strong>in</strong>ts off Detroit's 24<br />
turnovers.<br />
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION OFFICIAL SCORER’S REPORT<br />
09/25/2009 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN<br />
Playoffs Game #4 FINAL BOX<br />
Officials: #13 Cameron Inouye, #17 Scott Twardoski, #18 Kurt Walker<br />
HOME: DETROIT SHOCK (1-1)<br />
Time of Game: 2:04<br />
Attendance: 9,210<br />
NO PLAYER MIN FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA OR DR TOT A PF ST TO BS PTS<br />
6 Nikki Teasley F 20:57 3 5 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 0 3 1 7<br />
44 Taj McWilliams F 23:27 4 4 0 0 1 2 3 3 6 1 3 1 5 1 9<br />
35 Cheryl Ford C 37:17 3 6 0 0 2 2 5 8 13 0 4 1 4 0 8<br />
14 Deanna Nolan G 39:54 7 19 3 8 6 6 1 0 1 3 4 2 4 1 23<br />
22 Alexis Hornbuckle G 30:29 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 5 6 3 4 3 6 1 0<br />
45 Kara Braxton 16:33 4 5 0 0 1 2 2 3 5 1 3 0 1 1 9<br />
1 Shavonte Zellous 28:40 6 20 2 7 5 7 5 4 9 3 2 1 1 1 19<br />
24 Olay<strong>in</strong>ka Sanni 2:43 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0<br />
42 Crystal Kelly DNP – Coach’s Decision<br />
23 Plenette Pierson DND – Right Shoulder Surgery<br />
30 Katie Smith DND – Low Back Pa<strong>in</strong><br />
TOTALS 27 65 6 17 15 19 17 24 41 <strong>12</strong> 25 8 24 7 75<br />
PERCENTAGES 41.5% 35.3% 78.9% TM REB: 7 TOT TO: 24 (28 PTS)<br />
VISITOR: Indiana Fever (1-1)<br />
NO PLAYER MIN FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA OR DR TOT A PF ST TO BS PTS<br />
24 Tamika Catch<strong>in</strong>gs F 36:03 6 13 1 6 9 11 1 8 9 5 4 6 4 0 22<br />
32 Ebony Hoffman F 32:30 5 5 1 1 2 3 1 4 5 2 3 3 2 1 13<br />
8 Tammy Sutton-Brown C 29:50 4 9 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 2 4 2 3 2 8<br />
23 Katie Douglas G 33:33 5 10 1 3 3 8 0 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 14<br />
41 Tully Bevilaqua G 21:38 0 5 0 3 0 2 1 1 2 2 3 0 0 0 0<br />
31 Jessica Moore 11:04 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 4<br />
20 Briann January 21:58 4 9 2 4 2 2 1 2 3 3 2 0 1 0 <strong>12</strong><br />
21 Tamecka Dixon 6:49 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2<br />
50 Jessica Davenport 6:36 0 2 0 0 4 4 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 4<br />
14 Shay Murphy DNP – Coach’s Decision<br />
34 Christ<strong>in</strong>a Wirth DNP – Coach’s Decision<br />
TOTALS 27 60 5 17 20 30 5 22 27 16 19 18 11 4 79<br />
PERCENTAGES 45.0% 29.4% 66.7% TM REB: 10 TOT TO: 13 (9 PTS)<br />
SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 FINAL<br />
Shock 15 23 20 17 75<br />
FEVER 17 22 21 19 79<br />
Po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> the Pa<strong>in</strong>t: Shock 32, FEVER 36 Biggest Lead: Shock 6, FEVER 7<br />
Second Chance Po<strong>in</strong>ts: Shock 22, FEVER 8 Lead Changes: 9<br />
Fast Break Po<strong>in</strong>ts: Shock 16, FEVER 7 Times Tied: 9<br />
2011 PLAYOFFS MEDIA GUIDE<br />
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