Final/OT

Sky 86

(8-7, 4-3 away)

Fever 88

(9-6, 5-2 home)

    7:00 PM ET, July 7, 2012

    1 2 3 4 OT T
    CHI 15 18 18 25 1086
    IND 25 12 27 12 1288

    Top Performers

    Chicago: S. Fowles 24 Pts, 16 Reb, 1 Ast, 4 Stl, 2 Blk

    Indiana: T. Catchings 18 Pts, 9 Reb, 6 Ast, 4 Stl, 1 Blk

    Sky-Fever Preview

    STATS LLC

    The Indiana Fever failed to get their long homestand off to a strong start.

    Their second meeting in less than two weeks with the Chicago Sky would seem to be a good way for them to get things going in the right direction.

    The Fever aim for a more complete performance and their 12th consecutive home victory over the Sky on Saturday night.

    Indiana (8-6) had won three of four before opening a six-game homestand by blowing an 18-point lead to lose 88-72 to San Antonio on Thursday. The Fever were held to 29 points in the second half.

    "Very disappointed with our lack of intensity in the second half," coach Lin Dunn said. "The way we started the second half let them back in the game. We did not match their intensity."

    They don't seem to have that issue against Chicago (8-6), going 22-5 in the all-time series and 12-1 at home. Their only blemish on their home floor against the Sky came Aug. 13, 2006, and they've won 11 in a row since.

    Indiana has also won all three meetings this season after an 81-72 road victory June 27 behind a season-high 18 points from Shavonte Zellous.

    Zellous is averaging 11.7 points against Chicago this year, nearly four more than her season average. She's coming off a rough performance against San Antonio, finishing with five points after missing 6 of 8 shots from the field.

    Tamika Catchings has hit her team-leading average of 17 points in each of the last two games, and added nine assists, five rebounds and four steals against the Sky last week.

    Indiana's seven-time All-Star forward wasn't nearly that effective in the last home matchup with Chicago on June 16, but reserve center Jessica Davenport and Katie Douglas combined for 34 points to lead the Fever to an 84-70 victory.

    Catchings finished with 12 points while making 3 of 12 field goals overall and missing all three attempts from beyond the arc.

    The Sky have dropped five of six, a stretch that started with last month's loss at Indiana. The biggest blow in that defeat came when All-Star guard Epiphanny Prince, one of the WNBA's leading scorers at 22.3 points per game, suffered a broken right foot.

    The Sky struggled without Prince again Friday, turning the ball over 17 times in a 64-59 loss at New York. Chicago missed 12 of 15 3-point attempts and 15 of 21 free throws.

    Center Sylvia Fowles couldn't be blamed, as she scored 20 points with nine rebounds, four steals and two blocks.

    Fowles is averaging 22 points and 8.7 rebounds against the Fever this season, and had a season-high 26 points while shooting 11 of 15 at Indiana last month.

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