Douglas, Sun overpower Fever
Indiana couldn't beat Connecticut this season with Tamika Catchings. Without her, it wasn't even close.
Katie Douglas scored 19 points and the Connecticut Sun routed the Fever, 84-59, last night in Uncasville, Conn.
The Sun's fifth consecutive win put them within a game of Indiana for second place in the East. But Sun coach Mike Thibault said he hasn't spent a lot of time thinking about the standings.
"I've spent more time, and I think our players have, just about playing well and getting better each game," he said. "I think that's the one thing over this stretch is that we've played better every game."
Asjha Jones had 11 points for Connecticut (16-12) and 7-foot-2-inch Margo Dydek added 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. She also held Indiana's Tammy Sutton-Brown to just 9 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
"[Dydek] is a big girl. She clogs up the middle and she does that well," Sutton-Brown said.
K.B. Sharp tied a career high with 14 points for Indiana (17-11).
The Fever, who lost Catchings to a foot injury on July 20, have now lost seven of their last eight. Catchings had been averaging over 16 points and 9 rebounds.
The Sun shot 50 percent from the field, including 58 percent in the first half, when they hit 8 of 9 from 3-point range. "I felt like the basket was huge," said Douglas. "It was like an ocean for us."
Storm 111, Mercury 101 -- Betty Lennox scored 25 points, Lauren Jackson 23, and Iziane Castro Marques 22 to lead host Seattle to two franchise scoring records in its win over Phoenix.
The Storm broke the team record of 100 points, set in a win over Phoenix May 23, and set a franchise record with 61 points in the first half, breaking the mark of 56 set in 2003.
Seattle snapped a three-game losing streak and stayed three games ahead of Los Angeles for the fourth and final Western Conference playoff berth with five games left.
Diana Taurasi scored 28 points and Cappie Pondexter had 24 for Phoenix, which dropped into a first-place tie with San Antonio.
The Storm shot 76 percent (16 for 21) from the field in the opening quarter, including 6 for 8 on 3-pointers.
Silver Stars 86, Sparks 67 -- Shana Crossley came off the bench to lead host San Antonio with 26 points as the Silver Stars clinched their first playoff berth since moving to Texas.
Comets 80, Lynx 77 -- Tina Thompson scored 14 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter as visiting Houston held off Minnesota.
