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The Indiana Fever beat the New York Liberty on Saturday night for the second time in a week. Their first meeting made headlines as rookie Teaira McCowan made a buzzer-beating layup to win 81-80. This time around the Fever dominated the Liberty, winning 92-77.
Indiana opened up a 26-7 lead after the first quarter. Despite outscoring the Fever 70-66 the rest of the way, the Liberty never made a serious push to get back into the game. New York was extremely cold to start, shooting 2-for-22 in the opening quarter.
The Fever were on fire as they shot 52 percent for the game. Indiana was led by Kelsey Mitchell who scored 23 points, including going 5-of-7 on three-point shots. Mitchell scored eight points combined in the Fever’s first two games.
Indiana third-round draft pick Paris Kea saw her first professional action against New York. Kea scored 10 points and assisted on three baskets in 14 minutes of play.
Shot clock winding down? No problem for Paris Kea!#Fever20 #AllForLove pic.twitter.com/4uGEkfmObl
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 2, 2019
Ten days after being waived by Dallas and a week after being signed by the Fever, rookie Kennedy Burke scored seven points. Here she is hitting her first career three-point shot:
Kennedy Burke hits the 3️⃣ and Wheeler likes what she sees! #Fever20 #AllForLove pic.twitter.com/IykRWzbXzs
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 2, 2019
Fever point guard Erica Wheeler scored her 1,000th point as a member of the Fever, becoming the 12th player in Indiana franchise history to achieve the milestone. Wheeler spent her 2015 rookie season with the Dream and the Liberty, joining Indiana the following season. Wheeler finished with 10 points in the game.
Four of the five starters for New York scored in double figures, with Tina Charles leading the way with 15 points. Charles was much more effective in the first meeting, scoring 32 points in the loss.
Reshanda Gray has emerged as a bright spot early in the season for New York. Gray last played for the Atlanta Dream in 2016, appearing in 28 games. Gray has come off the bench for the Liberty after signing with the team in early May. She has scored in double figures in both of New York’s games while shooting 62 percent from the floor.
Indiana does not take the court again until Friday when they face Dallas, the second game of a four-game homestand. New York will play again on Tuesday for the first of four straight at home when they face the Sparks.