July 30, 2005

Indiana 62, Washington 58

Tamika Catchings scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, helping the Indiana Fever rally in the second half for a 62-58 win over the Washington Mystics on Friday night.

Natalie Williams scored 14 points, and Kelly Miller had 13 for Indiana.

Catchings and Williams scored seven points each as the Fever went on an 18-4 run in a 6:41 span of the second half and built a 51-41 lead with 11:02 remaining.

Temeka Johnson scored 15 points, and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 12 for Washington, which closed to one point with a late 14-4 run.

Chastity Melvin's baseline drive cut the deficit to 59-58 with 22.4 seconds remaining, but Catchings made one of two free throws with 15.9 seconds to play.

After Johnson missed a hook shot in the lane, Jurgita Streimikyte rebounded, was fouled with 0.4 seconds remaining, and sank both free throws.

Alana Beard, who scored a career-high 27 points in Washington's home win over San Antonio on Thursday, scored 10 points Friday on 3-of-11 shooting. After a fast start, she scored just two points over the final 32 minutes.

Indiana, second in the Eastern Conference at 14-8, moved three games ahead of third-place Washington (12-12). The Fever have won six of eight. They have held opponents to fewer than 60 points in each of those wins.

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