 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Deanna Nolan scored 22 points to lead the Detroit Shock to an 81-72 victory over the Indiana Fever on Friday night in the opener of the WNBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 17 points and seven rebounds, and Plenette Pierson had 11 points for the Shock. Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be Sunday in Detroit.
The Shock swept Indiana in three regular-season games and have won five straight over the Fever, including the last two games of the 2007 conference finals.
Tamika Catchings posted 19 points and seven assists, Ebony Hoffman scored 19 points, and Tan White chipped in 11 for the Fever. Before the game, Hoffman was chosen as this season's most improved player in the WNBA.
To advance to the conference finals, the Fever will have to win two games in Detroit. Last year, Indiana lost at Connecticut in the first game of the opening round and then won the next two at home.
Game 3 of this series will be played Tuesday, if necessary.
The Shock, who shot 59 percent in the first half and opened a 39-29 lead, took their biggest advantage, 68-52, on Katie Smith's two free throws with 7:42 left in the fourth quarter.
Indiana cut the deficit to 77-68 on White's layup with 1 minute left, but McWilliams-Franklin pushed the lead back to 12 points with a three-point play on Detroit's ensuing possession. |