Catchings helps Fever run past Mercury

Fever run past Mercury

PHOENIX — Tamika Catchings scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Fever past the Phoenix Mercury 104-82 on Sunday, putting Indiana atop the Eastern Conference with two weeks left in the regular season.

With a free throw and a 19-footer, Catchings capped a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter to give the Fever an 81-70 lead against the highest scoring team in the league. With its highest offensive output of the season, the Fever (18-10) moved a half-game ahead of idle Atlanta with six games to play.

Diana Taurasi scored 21 points and had seven assists for Phoenix (14-14), which had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Katie Douglas added 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Indiana, which hit eight of its first 10 shots in the final quarter to pull away.