Sports stats



WNBA Indiana Fever

Fever Win Second Road Game of the Season Friday Night at Minnesota

June 10, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Indiana Fever News Release


MINNEAPOLIS - The Indiana Fever earned the second win of the regular season Friday night against the Minnesota Lynx, 71-69, at Target Center. Friday night's Fever win featured 12 lead changes and the game was tied on 13 different instances. Neither team held a lead of more than six points in the first of four regular season meetings between Indiana and Minnesota this season.

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana (2-5) in scoring again, finishing the game with 22 points while shooting 9-of-16 from the floor. With her nine made field goals, Mitchell is now tied with Katie Douglas for second all-time for most made field goals in franchise history with 899 heading into Sunday's matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Phoenix Mercury. Her two assists on the night also elevated Mitchell to being tied for fourth for most assists in franchise history with Douglas as well with 470 assists in a Fever uniform.

Fever forward NaLyssa Smith notched her fourth double-double of the year, scoring 12 points and contributing a team-high 12 rebounds. Center Aliyah Boston also pitched in her second straight double-double on the season as well with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Friday night was only the second time in franchise history the Fever have had multiple players record double-doubles in consecutive games, dating back to August 6 and August 7 in 2002. Smith and Boston combined to pull down 23 of the 34 rebounds for Indiana.

Victoria Vivians and Grace Berger had impactful minutes off the bench as well, as Berger contributed a team-high four assists and Vivians pitched in eight points on 2-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc.

The Fever defense was ready for Minnesota in the first quarter, holding Minnesota to a 29.4 percent (5-of-17) shooting clip from the floor in the first 10 minutes. An 8-0 scoring run midway through the quarter, sparked by Mitchell's five points, gave Indiana momentum to finish the quarter ahead of the Lynx (1-7), leading 16-14, which was also the lowest scoring first quarter from a Fever opponent this season.

With the second of her three assists in the second quarter, Fever guard Erica Wheeler gained sole possession of the 50th spot on the WNBA all-time assists list with 876 career assists and passed Lisa Leslie. Wheeler added 10 points, three rebounds and three assists on the night as well. The Fever led by two at halftime and held the Lynx to 34 points, the lowest offensive output allowed by an Indiana opponent this season in a first half.

Indiana's only four points in the first six minutes of the second half were contributed by Smith, as the Fever were outscored by the Lynx, 21-15, in the third quarter.

Indiana trailed the Lynx, 55-51, to start the final quarter. With four lead changes in the fourth quarter, the result of the game came down to the final two minutes as a layup from Smith and two completed free throws from Wheeler gave Indiana a five-point lead with 1:03 remaining. A completed three-pointer from Lynx forward Napheesa Collier brought Minnesota within two points, but Minnesota was unable to score in its last possession and the final horn sounded with the Fever ahead, 71-69. Mitchell shot 3-of-4 from the floor and added seven points in the last 10 minutes to secure the victory.

Minnesota's Collier guided the Lynx with a double-double of her own, finishing with a team-high 28 points and 14 rebounds. Kayla McBride also added 11 points of her own.

The Indiana bench outscored the Minnesota reserves, 17-9.

UP NEXT

The Fever return home to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday to take on the Phoenix Mercury at 5 p.m. ET. Sunday's game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page and on CBS Sports Network.

Check out the Indiana Fever Statistics



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 10, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central