Vandersloot debuts for Chicago Sky

Katie Douglas scored 19 points with seven rebounds, Tamika Catchings had 15 points and nine boards and the Indiana Fever beat the Chicago Sky 65-57 on Saturday night in Indianapolis in the season opener for both teams. Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga University) debuted for the Sky with seven points and a team-high seven assists in almost 29 minutes of play. The Sky’s Angie Bjorklund (Tennessee/University High) did not play because of a coach’s decision. Briann January (Lewis and Clark High) of the Fever started and had three points, four steals and four assists. Tangela Smith scored 16 points for the Fever, who beat the Sky for the sixth straight time. Smith hit was 4 of 7 from behind the arc, one shy of her career high for 3s in a game. Epiphanny Prince scored 20 points and Sylvia Fowles added 10 points and seven rebounds for Chicago, which fell behind 10-1 at the start of the game and never led. The Sky cut the deficit to four by the end of the half, but Indiana jumped to a 10-point lead with a 9-2 run to start the third quarter.