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Fever-Liberty Preview
WNBA Headlines
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By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
(AP) -- The Indiana Fever have matched the best start in franchise history.
The New York Liberty are off to their worst start, thanks in part to the Fever.
Indiana looks to set a club record by capitalizing on another matchup with the last-place Liberty and completing a sweep of a home-and-home set Sunday night at Prudential Center.
The Fever (4-0) are trying to prove they're contenders for a WNBA championship after falling to Atlanta in last season's Eastern Conference finals. They're certainly playing like contenders so far in 2012.
Indiana has tied its longest winning streak to open a season, achieved in both 2006 and 2007. Another meeting with New York (0-5) may be just what the Fever need to win a fifth straight.
They had little trouble with the Liberty on Saturday, rolling to a 91-68 home victory. Indiana made 13 of 26 3-pointers and nearly tripled New York in bench points, holding a 52-18 edge.
Indiana has lost its last two road games against the Liberty, including an 87-72 defeat Sept. 17 in Game 2 of the East semifinals. The Fever clinched the series with a victory at home two days later.
Tamika Catchings has totaled 11 points while shooting just 3 of 16 from the field the last two times the Fever have visited the Liberty, including a two-point effort in the playoff matchup.
The reigning WNBA MVP was much better at home against the Liberty on Saturday, scoring 14 of her 16 points in the first half. However, she was issued a technical after making contact with an official while arguing a foul call.
Averaging 19.8 points on the season, Catchings may be in for another strong performance since New York is being outscored by an average of 17.4 points during the worst start to a season in its franchise history.
The Liberty, surrendering 88.2 points per game, could use an improved effort from guard Cappie Pondexter, who was held to a season-low 13 points while missing 11 of 15 field-goal attempts in Saturday's loss.
Pondexter leads New York with 16.6 points per game, while forward Plenette Pierson's 15.0 rank second.
Pierson scored a season-high 24 points Saturday at Indiana, as she and Pondexter were the only members of the Liberty to reach double figures.
They combined for 29 points against Indiana in Game 2 of last year's playoffs.
New York made 5 of 17 3-point attempts Saturday, and is shooting 24.7 percent from beyond the arc on the season while allowing opponents to shoot 42.0 percent from long range.
Updated June 3, 2012
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