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WNBA Indiana Fever

Aliyah Boston Ties Scoring Career High as Fever Fight Back in Loss at Atlanta

August 6, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


ATLANTA - Despite reducing a 14-point deficit to one possession in the fourth quarter, the Indiana Fever (7-21) were defeated by the Atlanta Dream, 82-73, on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta.

All-Star starter Aliyah Boston's fifth double-double of the season led Indiana in the matchup as she tied a career-high 25 points while pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds. The rookie center also tied a career-high for field goals made as she shot 12-of-22 from the court and recorded a new career best four steals.

Veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell contributed 20 points in the matchup from six field goals on 11 attempts to go along with four rebounds. The All-Star recorded 12 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter alone. In addition, Erica Wheeler added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Indiana outscored the Dream in the paint, 34-20, and outrebounded the third best rebounding team in the WNBA, 33-28.

While Indiana opened the first quarter shooting 2-of-9 from the floor, Atlanta took advantage by leading the Fever on a 13-4 scoring run to take an eight-point lead. Indiana's offense quickly pivoted as the Fever went on to shoot 6-of-11 through the remaining six minutes of the quarter. Atlanta's 9-of-17 shooting in the first quarter was led by Allisha Gray, Nia Coffey and Rhyne Howard's seven points a piece, while the Fever were led by Boston's seven points on 3-of-6 shooting.

Indiana shot an efficient 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from the court through the first eight minutes of the second frame, but would only complete one field goal in the remaining two minutes of the half. The Fever's scoring effort was led by Mitchell, who recorded seven points on 2-of-4 shooting from the court and 3-of-3 shooting from the charity stripe. Wheeler added six points in the quarter as well. Though reducing the deficit to four points on one occasion in the second frame, Indiana went into the locker room trailing Atlanta by nine points, 43-34.

Boston was the sole scorer for Indiana through the first seven minutes of the second half as she would end the third frame with eight points on 4-of-8 shooting from the court to go along with three steals. Atlanta recorded its largest lead of the game at 14 points on three occasions in the quarter, highlighted by Howard and Gray's seven points each. The third quarter ended, 62-50, with Atlanta in front.

Indiana started the final frame with a 14-6 scoring run, led by back-to-back three-pointers from Mitchell, reducing Atlanta's lead to three points, which was the smallest the lead had been since the 2:51 mark in the first quarter. Though Mitchell netted 12 points and Boston contributed eight points, both on 4-of-6 shooting from the court in the fourth quarter, the Dream ended the final four minutes of play shooting 5-of-7 from the floor to solidify the win.

Atlanta was led by Howard's 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Howard also pulled down four rebounds, dished out three assists and recorded two blocks and two steals. Gray added 21 points to the win to go along with four assists and three rebounds. Cheyenne Parker contributed 16 points and a team-leading six rebounds.

In addition, the Dream dished out 23 assists and recorded seven blocked shots.

Atlanta's only bench points were contributed by Danielle Robinson as she added nine points to the win for the Dream. Fever reserves Victoria Vivians, Kristy Wallace and Grace Berger combined to outscore the Dream reserves, 13-9.

UP NEXT

The Fever return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to take on the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. Tuesday's game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Indiana.

Check out the Indiana Fever Statistics



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 6, 2023


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