INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tamika Catchings had 18 points and 12 rebounds and the Indiana Fever advanced to the WNBA’s Eastern Conference finals by completing a best-of-three series sweep of the Chicago Sky with a 79-57 victory Sunday.
Erlana Larkins added 14 points and Shavonte Zellous scored 10. The Fever (18-18) will play at either Atlanta or Washington in Game 1 of the conference finals on Thursday.
The Fever were the only WNBA team to reach the playoffs with a losing record. But Indiana took advantage of Chicago’s poor shooting to defeat the Sky for the fifth straight time.
The Sky (24-12) missed their first six shots from the field, but took an early 6-3 lead by hitting 6-of-6 free throws. But Catchings scored six straight points for the Fever to give Indiana a lead it would never relinquish.
Sylvia Fowles led the Sky with 14 points. Epiphanny Prince scored 10 points, and WNBA Rookie of the Year Elena Delle Donne added 10 points, but was scoreless in the second half.
