By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer
Indiana
shot 2 for 13 in the fourth quarter, stifling any chance it had of overcoming
the 72-65 deficit it faced going into the period. The Fever scored 12 points in
the quarter, the third-lowest total in a fourth quarter in finals history.
Tamika Catchings, who led Indiana with 24 points and 12 rebounds,
agreed that her teammates became hesitant. She said this is the wrong time for
that.
Catchings shot 11 for 17 and Ebony Hoffman scored 17
points on 7-for-10 shooting. The rest of the team shot 11 for 44.
All-Star Katie Douglas, who was hoping to celebrate a
clinching win in her hometown, scored seven points on 2 for 14 shooting.
"I thought Katie got some great looks, looks she
had been knocking down from the 3-point line to the rim," Indiana coach Lin Dunn said.
"Maybe toward the end, she passed up some shots because she had missed
them."
Indiana's
bench, which both coaches had said was the reason the Fever were leading the
series, struggled on Wednesday. The Fever bench shot a combined 2-for-16 from
the field.
"In these games, we've struggled when everyone has
gotten their points, especially Briann when she comes in and changes the
game," Taurasi said. "Sometimes you focus on certain things and you
get them done."
Indiana tied the score
at 59 on a layup by Catchings with 4:30 left in the third quarter, but Phoenix went on a quick
6-0 run to force a timeout and put the fans, who had been standing in
anticipation of a Fever lead, back in their seats. The Mercury extended their
lead to 72-65 at the end of the third quarter.
Dunn was disappointed to lose at home but focused on
the fact that her team still could win the championship.
"They had to win," Dunn said of the Mercury.
"They had to do it the hard way. Now, we've got to go out there and do it
the hard way, too. The only situation we've got here is that we're tied."
Taurasi was glad to earn another chance, but she
wouldn't promise a victory on Friday.
"I'm going to guarantee that we're going to come
out and leave it all on the floor," she said. "I'm going to guarantee
that the minute the game ends, we're going to be spent physically and
emotionally -- and hopefully we're holding the trophy."
