INDIANAPOLIS — Let’s talk hoops. An ancient, forgotten topic with the Indiana Fever thanks to online “narratives,” as coach Stephanie White said.
The Fever have won seven of their last nine games, including a 106-92 win over the New York Liberty on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever led New York by 18 points at halftime. The Liberty cut the deficit to nine a little over three minutes into the third quarter but the Fever didn’t break and led by 20 heading into the final period.
”It never felt like we were backpedaling, even though they did go on their run. It never felt like we were on our heels,” guard Caitlin Clark said. “We knew they were going to go on a run, and we knew we were going to come back and respond. In the Vegas game, we were on our heels a little bit, especially in the third quarter. We still played well offensively in the third quarter tonight, and that was not the case versus Vegas.”
Indiana led by as many as points 20 points in its 86-84 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. Clark wants to improve at getting the Fever a “quick bucket” and “understanding the sequence of the game” to ensure Indiana maintains leads and closes out games. The Fever have lost five games this season in which they led by at least 10 points.
Clark had four turnovers Tuesday, but Indiana recorded 11 on the night, three less than its season average. Clark said Indiana’s goal is 12 or fewer turnovers per game. The Fever are 10-3 when they commit 13 or fewer turnovers.
“We built that really good lead in the first half. We got to put the pedal to the medal. We got to make a statement coming out of that third quarter, and that's just an area of growth,” guard Sophie Cunningham said. “We all know it, and we've got to try to lock in and try to find a way to be successful in trying to punch first in the third quarter.”
Cunningham acknowledged the third quarter as “slumpy” but praised Indiana for its resilience and said the Fever played a “solid” game. Indiana improved to 21-12 with the win and is fourth in league standings. They have scored 100 points in 10 games this season. Kelsey Mitchell and Clark dropped 28 and 22, respectively, another stellar night in what has been a historic season for the star duo.
“Tonight was the night that we all just clicked. We had fun, we did it for (coach Stephanie White) and we did it for everyone in the locker room,” Cunningham said. “That third quarter almost got away from us, but we dialed it in, and we went on a run. And that's what it's all about.”
White received backlash on social media because some thought she defended DiJonai Carrington after the Chicago Sky guard hit Cunningham in the face as Cunningham went for a layup. Carrington received a flagrant 2 and was ejected in the first quarter of the Fever’s win over Chicago on Saturday. White said Tuesday she didn’t see the play in real time.
“I take personally any suggestions that I don’t 100% always have my players back,” White said before the Tuesday’s contest. “I ride with them 10 toes down all the time. They know that.”
They do. Clark told White before the game that there was “no way (we) were losing this game tonight.”
“We showed what we're all about tonight. We came out, we had fun, we shared the ball and we played with joy and a smile on our faces,” Clark said. “And to be honest, we really just did it for (White), and we did it for each other and the girls in our locker room.”
Hoops and the love for it — the “main thing.”
Joshua Heron is an enterprise and Fever reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @HeronReports. Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever respond when lead dips from 18 to 9 in third quarter: 'We dialed in'
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