WNBA Indiana Fever

Fever Complete Largest Regular Season Comeback in Franchise History to Defeat Lynx 86-75

Published on August 3, 2019 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


KEY STAT:

The Lynx shot 60 percent (21-of-35) from the field in the first half while holding the Fever to 38.9 percent (14-of-36). Indiana started four reserves to begin the second half and went 20-of-35 (57.1 percent) after halftime. Minnesota was 10-of-28 (35.7 percent) in the final 20 minutes.

Down 41-21 with 4:55 left in the second quarter, Indiana outscored Minnesota 65-34 the rest of the game. The 20-point comeback win is the largest for a regular season game in franchise history.

Indiana forced a season-high 22 turnovers that resulted in 30 points. The Lynx turned the ball over 15 times in the second half.

KEY RUN:

Indiana scored seven consecutive points to open the third quarter as part of a 25-5 run. The Fever were up 63-53 after the burst and never trailed again.

After Indiana trimmed Minnesota's lead to 23-21 early in the second quarter, the Lynx scored 18 straight points to build a 41-21 advantage.

Minnesota scored 11 of the game's first 13 points and led 23-19 after the first quarter. All 11 of the Lynx's points came from Sylvia Fowles and Odyssey Sims.

INDIANA NOTES:

Indiana got 55 points from its reserves. Kelsey Mitchell (20 points), Shenise Johnson (12 points), Natalie Achonwa (11 points) and Stephanie Mavunga (10 points) all contributed at least 10 points off the bench.

Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 20 points. Mitchell finished 7-of-16 from the field and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Mitchell set a new career high with nine assists. It is the fourth time in 2019 a Fever player has posted nine assists in a game.

Erica Wheeler recorded the 500th assist of her Fever career in the first quarter. Wheeler is the third player in franchise history to reach the milestone.

Stephanie Mavunga tied career bests in points (10) and rebounds (six) in a career-high 19 minutes. Mavunga also blocked multiple shots for the first time in 2019.

Teaira McCowan (eight rebounds) paced the Fever in rebounding for the 14th time this season. McCowan has 47 boards in her last four games.

The Fever have scored 29 points in the third quarter in both meetings with the Lynx. The 29 points are the most by Indiana in the third quarter and the most allowed by Minnesota this season.

The Fever have won back-to-back games for the first time since June 1 and June 7.

The victory puts the Fever two games back in the win column from a playoff spot. Minnesota and Phoenix both have 10 wins.

MINNESOTA NOTES:

Temi Fagbenle scored 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting in the first half, setting a new career high in 20 minutes.

Sylvia Fowles contributed a team-high 17 points and pulled down five rebounds. Fowles has reached double figures in 10 straight games.

Stephanie Talbot dished a season-high five assists. Talbot finished with five points, five assists and five rebounds.

Napheesa Collier (14 points, seven rebounds) and Danielle Robinson (11 points, two assists) ended in double figures as well. Collier added three steals and two blocks.

The Lynx made two of their 11 3-point attempts, setting a season low in 3-point field goal percentage (18.2 percent).

Tonight marked the largest blown lead (20 points; 43-23 with 3:55 left in the second quarter) in franchise history. The previous mark was 19 vs. Los Angeles (2OT) on July 1, 1999. Minnesota now moves to 123-1 when leading by 20+ points.

Although falling tonight, the Lynx outscored Indiana in the paint 42-34. Tonight marked the third straight game Minnesota has scored 40+ points in the paint.

Minnesota additionally outscored the Fever 15-9 in fast break points. The 15 fast break points tie a season-high (June 30 at Dallas).

INDIANA QUOTES:

Head Coach Pokey Chatman

"So many positives tonight. I have to start with that second half unit, the same group that ended the first half [Shenise Johnson, Stephanie Mavunga, Natalie Achonwa, Tiffany Mitchell, Kelsey Mitchell]. They brought the energy and kept the momentum going for us. Fifty-five bench points, that's pretty incredible. When I went into the locker room after the game, I gave the game ball to the kids from Ohio State [Mavunga & Kelsey Mitchell]. Kelsey was solid with the ball in her hands and Steph was so active. She was disruptive, got steals, deflections, blocked shots, rebounds. Some of the best things they did were maintaining our defensive schemes against Sylvia [Fowles] and DRob [Danielle Robinson]."

(on the play of the bench unit)

"You know, they're connected when they get their minutes. They play together in practice. I have to single out Mavunga just because she's the most vocal. She never misses a workout, she stays ready and she's got great energy. She seized the moment and played great when she was matched up against Syl. And I can't say enough about Achonwa. Nat's always just solid. Tonight again, whether she starts or comes off the bench. She's so smart, she's someone you always can count on."

(on not playing All-Stars Dupree and Wheeler as much)

"I didn't play the All-Stars, but that wasn't anything that was pre-determined. You can't pre-determine those things. We got the energy we were looking for. At first I figured we'd let it go for 2-3 minutes; then 5 to 6 minutes, then .... Wow. It's like I have said since May, it's going to take all of us."

"At halftime, we decided to go with the group that ended the half. We just rode that wave. I just rode the energy and the momentum. They were effective and kept us in the game, then got us the lead. We just rode the wave."

(on Kelsey Mitchell)

"I'd like to see more of the same from her. I want her on the ball, and I want her off the ball. She scored 20 tonight and gave us another 18 with nine assists. Please write about those assists!"

Kelsey Mitchell

Honestly, took a look in the mirror for myself. Had to swallow the pill of the fact that I'm kind of in a different role continuously game in and game out. Sometimes I'm playing the two, sometimes I'm playing one, sometimes I come off the bench, sometimes I start out. So for me, I'm just kind of like, look at myself in the mirror and kind of figure out what my role is and I try to play it as well as possible. So I've had a come to Jesus moment these last couple games knowing that stuff is not going to be my way. So I just try to play it all out on the court."

Tiffany Mitchell

(Where did the energy and communication come from tonight?)

"I mean, we've always had it, just sustaining it for four quarters. So, we've always had it since the beginning of the season. We were very aware that we were a defensive team, so we were just able to put it all together today. That was the game plan, just to make every shot hard for them. You know the heads of the snake of [Sylvia Fowles] and Odyssey [Sims]. Just try to make everything really difficult for them."

MINNESOTA QUOTES:

Head Coach Cheryl Reeve

"We got outscored 15 to 5 to end the second quarter. Obviously, their second group, their bench was the tale of the game scoring 55 points, led by Kelsey (Mitchell) who played great. That's the story."

"Fifteen turnovers in the second half, 21 turnovers in the game for 30 points. I feel like the second group had some energy. Obviously, Tiffany Mitchell, I thought, was a big part of that even though she's a starter. They had a will about them. As I told our group, that's a team that wants to be in the playoffs and still has a chance to be in the playoffs. Took advantage of playing at home. Won the last game. Now they have a win streak going. Win your home games and you have a chance to be successful. We never expect them to quit."

Temi Fagbenle

"Obviously we're disappointed with the outcome. Props to Indiana for fighting back and pulling out the win. We weren't able to secure it even though we had a huge lead. So that's something we have to go back and fix, just being able to keep a lead and keep fighting all the way to the end."

(on the difference between the first and second half)

"It was night and day, basically, obviously. We were up, first half, lost. Ending up losing. So we had all the confidence in the world first half. You know, we were punching them and they punched us second half and we couldn't retaliate."

Sylvia Fowles

"I think we started out well. We know Indiana is a gritty team, especially they are on a roll right now. Then we had to face them at home. So, clean up a few things. I think our turnovers gave them momentum within the second half. We got another one to go, so quick turnaround."

(on the difference between the first and second half)

"The difference between the first and second half was our turnovers. Just like I said, Indiana came out and they utilized our turnovers. I think we had 22 turnovers off 30-something points. And so that was their momentum change. If we can limit our turnovers and get some good looks at the basket, we'll be okay."

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