INDIANAPOLIS — Ebony Hoffman’s two big plays put the Indiana Fever one win away from their first WNBA title.
She hit the jumper that gave her team a one-point lead with 57 seconds left, then blocked Tangela Smith’s shot with a second remaining to help Indiana defeat Phoenix 86-85 in Game 3 of the finals Sunday. The Fever took a 2-1 lead in the series and can clinch the championship with a win at home Wednesday.
Indiana forward Tamika Catchings said Hoffman has been a force since going through a slump at the end of the regular season.
“In the playoffs, she’s stepped up her game and done such big things, especially in the Phoenix series, playing unbelievable, out of her mind,” Catchings said. “That’s awesome to see that, especially with the hard work she’s put in over the years.”
Hoffman, who led Indiana with 18 points, did it all with a sprained right shoulder. She left the game with 7:21 left and returned with 3:40 to play.
“My shoulder just popped out and went back in,” Hoffman said. “It’s just going to hurt.”
Catchings had 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, Briann January scored 17 points, and Katie Douglas had 15.
Cappie Pondexter led Phoenix with 23 points and Le’coe Willingham added 17. Diana Taurasi, the league’s MVP, scored 18 points but shot 6-for-16 from the field.
The lead seesawed throughout the fourth quarter.
Hoffman’s long shot from the left corner put Indiana ahead in the final minute. The officials reviewed it to determine if she was behind the arc and concluded it was a 2-pointer, giving Indiana an 86-85 lead.
Pondexter rushed downcourt and missed a layup, and Catchings rebounded. Then Indiana missed twice in close, but got the offensive rebound. January dribbled the ball out of bounds with 22 seconds left, though, to give Phoenix a final chance.
Pondexter missed a short jumper, and Catchings went for the rebound. She tried to call timeout, but Willingham tied her up and a jump ball was called.
Catchings felt she had called the timeout.
“I got the rebound looking for a referee to call timeout, but Le’coe got there, and I guess they felt like her hands were on the ball,” Catchings said.
Willingham won the jump ball, and Phoenix called timeout with 3.4 seconds left to set up the final shot.
Phoenix wasn’t looking for Smith on the play.
“It was designed for Penny (Taylor),” Pondexter said. “I think I overthrew the pass and it ended up in Tangela’s hands. Tangela got a decent look, and Ebony blocked the shot. We had numerous chances to get a good-looking shot. We didn’t execute. Sometimes, that happens.”
The final margin irked Phoenix because the Fever got a free throw when Taurasi was called for a technical foul that she didn’t agree with.
Taurasi had just made a tying layup with 5:14 to play, then took the ball and put it on the baseline for Indiana to inbound. As Taurasi turned around, she ran into Douglas, who fell and briefly held her stomach.
Taurasi said the officials told her she had thrown an elbow. Taurasi disagreed, saying her head hit Douglas and the play actually messed up her bun.
Catchings made the technical free throw to take a 76-75 lead, then January was fouled on the possession Indiana gained after the technical, and she made two free throws.
“Lose by a head butt,” Taurasi joked.
There were seven lead changes and three ties in the second half.
The series has been tight throughout, with Phoenix winning Game 1 in overtime and Indiana taking Game 2 93-84 on Thursday.
“Game 3 is probably the hardest we fought out of this whole series, and it’s tough when you lose like that,” Pondexter said. “So now, it’s more mental than anything. Game 4, I think we have to be stronger mentally, and the rest will take care of itself.”
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Tom Strattman
-
Tom Strickland
-
Tom Strickland
-
Tom Strickland
-
Tom Strickland
Discussion
Fever beat Phoenix 86-85, takes 2-1 series lead
Catchings has 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists
- Local Sports
-
-
Bearcats upend AHS
Often basketball is a simple game, and it was certainly true for the Anderson boys basketball team here Thursday night. “We had too many turnovers — that’s the game,” said AHS coach Joe Nadaline after the Indians lost to Muncie Central 54-46 for their eighth straight defeat.
-
Bulldogs topple Raiders, win 9th in a row
The Bulldogs keep on rolling. Lapel (16-3) led from start to finish as it beat visiting Shenandoah 69-47 Thursday night to push its winning streak to nine games.
-
PHHS shoots down Fishers
It can be easy to take Kellen Dunham for granted. But the Pendleton Heights senior reminded everyone why he is a Mr. Basketball candidate with a furious fourth quarter Thursday night against Fishers. Dunham scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in the final eight minutes, connected on all 10 of his free-throw attempts during the period and drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key early in the frame that sent the fifth-ranked Arabians on their way to a 53-42 victory.
-
Frankton subdues Liberty
Youth was on display Thursday night in Frankton as the host Eagles squared off against the Liberty Christian Lions boys basketball team. Neither team had a senior start the game, and Frankton proved to be the more seasoned team in a 68-59 win.
-
Indians fall to Bearcats 54-46
Photos from Anderson as the Indians hosted the Muncie Central Bearcats.
-
Five for fighting
Like other coaches, Alexandria wrestling coach Jack Grimaldi sometimes has to worry about how to motivate his charges as they head into their matches. That shouldn’t be an issue for him with his five Tigers heading into Saturday’s individual semistate at New Castle.
-
Red-hot Lapel limiting miscues
Like any basketball coach, Jimmie Howell knows how important it is for a team to be playing its best basketball as the state tournament draws near.
But what’s going on in Lapel might be redefining that theory.
With a 60-42 win on the road over Class 3A No. 6 Guerin Catholic on Saturday, the Bulldogs pushed their winning streak to eight games. Over the 32-minute course of the game against the Golden Eagles, Lapel committed a microscopic four turnovers. -
PH moves on
On the roster of every successful team is a player or two who will do the unpleasant work. The ones who actually find satisfaction in this pursuit are worth their weight in wins to any coach. Pendleton Heights sophomore Kiawna Cottrell was just that player Tuesday as the Arabians advanced to the second round of sectional play with a 55-45 victory over Greenfield-Central.
-
Indians slay Spartans
The last time these two girls basketball teams met on Jan. 17, Anderson defeated Connersville 83-74 in overtime. Lady Tribe coach Chad Cook knew the Spartans would come out with a chip on their shoulder ready for revenge in Tuesday’s opening round of the Class 4A sectional.
-
Eagles eke by Raiders
Back in November, the Frankton girls basketball team handled Shenandoah by 29 points. Tuesday’s sectional opener at Shenandoah wasn’t as easy, but the end result was the same as Frankton moved on with a 44-43 win over the host Shenandoah Raiders.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
