Fever end Sun’s streak

The Indiana Fever got the confidence booster they needed in one of the toughest spots to play.

Anna DeForge had 20 points, and Tamika Catchings added 19 to lead the Fever to an 87-68 win over Connecticut on Friday night, snapping the Sun’s 12-game winning streak and handing the Eastern Conference leaders just their third loss at home. The Fever also avenged a home defeat two days earlier to the Sun and avoided a three-game series sweep.

“It is very important for our confidence,” Catchings said. “It was a hard loss for us a couple of days ago and even the first time we played them down the stretch we weren’t able to get over the hump.”

DeForge had four of Indiana’s nine 3-pointers, including a buzzer beater at the close of the third quarter that gave the Fever an 11-point lead.

With the WNBA’s best record, the Sun had already locked up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and were trying to notch the best record for an Eastern Conference team. Instead, they were handed their worst loss of the season before a sellout crowd in their regular-season finale. The 19-point defeat was also the Sun’s worst home loss since the franchise moved from Orlando four years ago.

Liberty 64, Sting 62: At New York, Barbara Farris’ putback with 1.7 seconds remaining lifted the Liberty to a victory over Charlotte.

Becky Hammon, starting for the first time since July 9, scored 15 points and Iciss Tillis added 10 as the Liberty snapped a two-game skid.

Sheri Sam had 15 points to lead the Sting, who lost for the seventh time in 10 games.

Mystics 78, Shock 66: At Washington, DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 12 of her 23 points in the third quarter and the Mystics rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat Detroit.

Alana Beard had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Mystics, who set a team record for wins in a season with their 18th.

Katie Smith and Deanna Nolan each scored 12 to top Detroit.