2016 WNBA season scores: Coleman, Fever bounce back with blowout of Liberty


The Indiana Fever are back. After a pair of disappointing losses to open their home stand, the Fever had an offensive juggernaut to beat the New York Liberty in wire-to-wire fashion, 98-77 on Thursday.

A simple adjustment paved the way for the Fever's dominant victory over the Liberty: the team started Marissa Coleman in the place of Lynetta Kizer, and the Fever team which people know showed up right from the start.

Indiana played with great ball movement and complemented the space created by the smaller line-up with three-point shooting.

Struggling all season long, Coleman scored the team's first seven points and went on to finish with 19 points including 4-for-7 from three-point area. As a team, Indiana shot 14-for-26 from long range after going just 5-for-31 combined in its two losses. The team also assisted 25 of 31 field goal makes.

Shenise Johnson came off the bench and scored a season-high 21 points as the Fever exploded for 40 first quarter points, a franchise record for most points in a single quarter. Tamika Catchings added 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

The Fever took a 63-38 lead to the locker room, and extended the advantage to 32 as they walked away with an easy win. The Fever rose to 13-14 in the team standings, tying the Phoenix Mercury for sixth to seventh spot. The Liberty remain in third spot by a distance at 19-9.

Tina Charles led New York, which was without Kiah Stokes and Tanisha Wright, with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Brittany Boyd was the only other double-digit scorer with 10 points, eight boards, and six dimes.

Thursday's scores:

 Indiana Fever 98, New York Liberty 77

 Los Angeles Sparks 70, San Antonio Stars 61


The Los Angeles Sparks (22-5) put a stop to a two-game losing streak by defeating the San Antonio Stars (6-21).

It did not come easy as everyone would expect, as the Sparks trailed for most of the game. The Stars were still ahead, 51-45 late in the third quarter before the Sparks scored the period's last six points to tie the score. In the fourth quarter, the Sparks pulled away by getting baskets in transition.

Candace Parker had 16 points including 3-for-5 three-point shooting, seven rebounds, six assists, and three blocks. Kristi Toliver, who kept the Sparks in the game in the first half, scored a team-high 21 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Nneka Ogwumike added 13 points and nine boards.

Jayne Appel-Marinelli tallied 12 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks to lead the Stars, which again played with only eight players. Astou Ndour contributed 11 points and six boards.

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