Aug 28, 2007, 2:38 GMT
Indianapolis, IN - Tamika Catchings poured in a playoff career-high 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Indiana Fever used the biggest comeback in WNBA playoff history to beat the Connecticut Sun in overtime, 93-88, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Tamika Whitmore scored 24 points off the bench and Anna DeForge contributed 18 for the Fever, who won this decisive Game 3 and will next face either the Detroit Shock or the New York Liberty in the next round.
'People that saw this game on TV saw how good WNBA basketball can be,' said Fever head coach Brian Winters.
Katie Douglas scored a team-high 27 points and Lindsay Whalen and Asjha Jones each scored 21 points for the Sun, who couldn't hold on to a 22-point lead in the second half. The previous largest deficit overcome was 21 by the Minnesota Lynx against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 23, 2003.
'They made shots and made stops and we didn't,' said Douglas. 'This season we've gotten some leads but we haven't been able to hold onto them.'
Catchings hit two free throws with 20.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give Indiana the lead and the Fever seemingly wrapped up the game after Sheri Sam corralled Douglas' missed three-pointer. However, Sam gave the ball right back to Connecticut and Nykesha Sales' trey with seven seconds remaining tied the game at 75-75.
Douglas then inexplicably fouled Catchings with 5.8 seconds left and her two free throws put Indiana back in front. However, Douglas took the ball right down the court and dropped in a layup with 1.3 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
'I would have loved to have dunked it,' added Douglas.
With the score knotted at 86-86 late in the extra period, Catchings drained a three with 31 seconds remaining. After a Sales layup brought the Sun back within 90-88 with five seconds left on the clock, Catchings hit three straight from the line to ice the game.
For the game, Catchings set an Indiana playoff record with 17 free throws attempted and 16 made.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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