Katie Douglas scores 22 as Indiana Fever hold off Minnesota Lynx 78-75 – WNBA Recap
On Sunday night, Katie Douglas scored a game-high 22 points, including the go-ahead shot with just 01:06 to go in the fourth quarter, and grabbed eight rebounds as Indiana Fever edged past Minnesota Lynx, 78-75, at the Target Center.
With the win, Indiana improved to a 6-3 record and grasped the first spot in the Eastern Conference.
Forward Tamika Catchings added 17 points and six rebounds while Jeanette Pohlen came off the bench with 10 points in the victory. With 21 points and four rebounds, Maya Moore was the top scorer for Minnesota. The 22-year-old rookie
scored 17 of her points in the first half and hit 3 of 5 three-pointers.
Lindsay Whalen added 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals while Rebekkah Brunson grabbed a game best 11 rebounds in the loss. Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Seimone Augustus scored 10 points each for the Lynx, who
have lost two of their previous five games.
Indiana shot 88.9 percent from free throw line while Minnesota converted just 63.2 percent and the difference eventually proved out to be turning point in the game.
First Quarter
Minnesota opened the first quarter on a 6-2 run but Douglas’ consecutive jumpers tied the game at 6-6, four minutes into the game. Moore broke the ice with her turnaround jumper and put Lynx ahead by two points, 8-6. Indiana then
scored the next nine points to carry a 15-8 advantage.
Lynx came right back though and Wright’s jumper with one minute in the frame, cut the deficit to just one, 19-18. Douglas and Tammy Sutton-Brown however combined for the last six points of the quarter to give Indiana a 24-18 lead,
going into the second.
Second Quarter
In the second quarter, it was neck and neck. Lynx converted the six-point deficit of the opening quarter into a four-point lead, 35-31, with 02:51 to go in the first half. Shavonte Zellous then hit a pair of free throws, Catchings
nailed a jumper and Douglas hit three-pointer put the Fever ahead by one point, 38-37.
The see saw battle continued and Minnesota eventually managed a one-point lead at halftime.
Third Quarter
Keyed by two jumpers of McWilliams-Franklin, Lynx widened their lead to 49-44 early in the third. Indiana however turned it on late and carried a 52-51 lead with around two minutes remaining. After surrendering their advantage,
Lynx bounced back again and went on a 9-4 run to make it 60-56, heading into the fourth.
Moore could not find her rhythm in the third quarter. The 6ft Minnesota player ran into the foul trouble and missed half of the crucial third period. She then returned to floor but hit just 2 of 6 shots.
Fourth Quarter
Trailing by 73-71 with 02:19 to go in the fourth quarter, Douglas drove to the rim to knot the game at 73 and then nailed a jumper to put Indiana ahead by two points. Fever never trailed through the rest of the period.
This was Fever’s third consecutive win of this season and the Lynx’s second consecutive defeat.
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