INDIANAPOLIS – Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Indiana Fever, 90-77, in Game 4 of the WNBA finals on Wednesday to avoid elimination.
Penny Taylor added 17 points for the Mercury while Diana Taurasi and Tangela Smith each scored 16 to even the series 2-2 and force Game 5 Friday in Phoenix.
Tamika Catchings led Indiana with 24 points and 12 rebounds and Ebony Hoffman added 17 points. All-Star Katie Douglas, who was hoping to celebrate a clinching win in her hometown, scored seven points on 2-for-14 shooting.
Phoenix shot 72 percent from the field in the first quarter to jump out to a 33-22 lead. The Fever held the Mercury to 16 points in the second quarter and cut their deficit to 49-47 at the half.
Indiana tied the score at 59 on a layup by Catchings with 4:30 left in the third quarter, but Phoenix went on a quick 6-0 run to force a timeout and put the fans, who had been standing in anticipation of a Fever lead, back in their seats. The Mercury extended their lead to 72-65 at the end of the third quarter.
Indiana trimmed its deficit to 72-68 on a steal and layup by Catchings, but the Fever went cold and the Mercury pulled away with a 12-2 spurt. A 3-pointer by Taylor made it 84-70 with 2:33 to go. (AP)