INDIANAPOLIS - Tamika Catchings tied a career high with 32 points, surpassing 5,000 for her career, and the Indiana Fever beat the New York Liberty 82-71 on Saturday night.
Catchings became just the sixth player to reach 5,000 points when she made a jumper from near the free throw line late in the first quarter. Catchings also set a franchise record by making 17 free throws. She already became the league's career leader in steals earlier this season.
Tangela Smith added 10 points for the Fever (17-7), who have won seven of their past eight games. All but one of the wins have been by double digits.
Cappie Pondexter scored 30 points and Essence Carson added 16 for New York (13-11), which has lost three of four.
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