Game 2: Fever 81, Mystics 74
The Mystics have led the Indiana Fever heading into the fourth quarter in five out of the six games between the two teams this season. Each game has been decided, or significantly impacted, by the fourth quarter and also free throws.
Indiana set a new franchise playoff record with 32 free throws made in their series-clinching 81-74 win over the Mystics at Conseco Fieldhouse. In order, the Fever made 26, 28, 23, 19, 23 and 32 free throws in each of their match ups with Washington this season.
"I'm proud of our team," Mystics Coach Julie Plank said. "I've been proud of them all year. I thought we outplayed them in every facet of the game. . . . There was a lot of discrepancy at the free throw line and that's hard to overcome."
This was yet another game that the Mystics saw slip through their fingers. They led from early in the second quarter until mid-way through the fourth and despite a poorly timed cold shooting streak still had an opportunity to win the contest in regulation.
"I almost would have rather lost by 50 than lose by a few," point guard Lindsey Harding said. "It's hard. We worked so hard to get to the playoffs and we were excited to be here but it's even harder when you know you were so close to beating a team and they end up coming in on top."
For nearly five minutes in the middle of the fourth quarter the Mystics couldn't buy a field goal and only Crystal Langhorne managed to record any in the frame. She had nine of the 14 Washington points in the fourth.
Combined with the scoring slump though were a few errors down the stretch, including six turnovers and eight fouls. Tamika Catchings had nine points in the final 10 minutes of regulation en route to one of her most multifaceted performances of the year. She finished with 24 rebounds, 16 rebounds, five assists, four blocked shots and four steals.
"Indiana got some very easy baskets in the paint in the fourth quarter and that helped them to gain the momentum," Monique Currie said. "I thought we fought hard down the stretch but made some mistakes. We would have liked to have finished the game in the fourth."
While the Mystics were noticeably disappointed in the sour end to the season, the year is still seen as a positive step for the franchise as a whole.
"I don't think there's any disappointment in this season by any means," Alana Beard said. "I thought we grew as a team. This is our first year together as a group. Obviously, we had a goal to make the playoffs. We didn't want to stop in the first round. . . . We were motivated by that. This is hard but I'm not disappointed in this season by any means."
Odds and Ends
*One of the strangest moments of the night came at the end of regulation but I'm not sure if the NBATV telecast caught it. When the buzzer sounded Plank started walking toward the Indiana bench as though her team had lost in regulation before being stopped by a referee and reminded that the game was going to overtime. She said afterward she had just been overwhelmed by the emotion of the game and lost track of what happened.
*The Mystics had 23 turnovers, the most ever committed against the Fever in the playoffs.
*It was just the second time in Indiana history that they recorded more than 40 rebounds. They out-rebounded the Mystics 45-43.
By
Katie Carrera
|
September 20, 2009; 12:49 AM ET
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Posted by: krae-kartoons | September 20, 2009 6:22 AM
Good season. Is not a good sign to make the playoffs as an under.500 team. Chance to be.500 & lose the the worst team in your conference.
Fact is time to trade Alana Beard! Not a prime time player. Not a winner. Does not make your team better. Indiana's best player, ties the score. Beard shoots an AIR BALL! Coach Plank, nice job in your 1st year. But too many personnel mistakes. No reason for Ajavon to be on the bench at crunch time. You had Kristen Mann on the floor? The future is Harding(MVP) & Ajavon as the starting backcourt. Dynamic & athletic. Maybe someone in the league will believe in the Beard hype & offer a 1st rounder(Fat chance).Use the pick to get a shot blocker(Ashley Robinson FA?). Blue & Mosby(who NEVER should have been re-signed) must go. Any wonder Mystic don't win.They have NO players from Tenn or UConn on the roster?
Posted by: briandcope | September 20, 2009 8:33 PM
Alana is a MVP all the way shes a star playing with 2 messed up ankles she is playing in pain and still the best anyone saying she isnt needs quickly revaluate the way they play basketball im 16 and kno betta ball than uuu!!!!!(briandcop)but anyway i love the mystics im a season ticket holder and i expect great things from this organization...n MO u funny(last nite press conference)
Posted by: lmccain1 | September 20, 2009 10:24 PM
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Tough loss, but solid effort by the Mystics. If Beard wasn't hobbled by her ankle injuries, the outcome may very well have been different. Of course, having a good center and backup PG would help, too.
This season was a big improvement over last season. Areas for continued improvement are pretty obvious, so Angela Taylor has her work cut out for her.