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BOX SCORE
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- With their season on the line, Wendy
Palmer and Astou Ndiaye-Diatta turned their respective games up
a notch.
Palmer and Ndiaye-Diatta combined for 30 second-half points as
the Detroit Shock kept alive their playoff hopes by rallying for
a 74-63 victory over the expansion Indiana Fever.
The Shock (13-18) trailed 31-22 at the half and Palmer and
Ndiaye-Diatta had just six points on 3-of-9 shooting between
them.
"I told them I'd stop coaching if they play hard," Detroit coach
Nancy Lieberman-Cline joked.
Palmer scored 16 points and Diatta added 14 over the final 20
minutes to rally the Shock. Coupled with Washington's loss to
Orlando, Detroit assured itself of a chance at the playoffs
entering Wednesday's season finale against New York.
"It's what we needed," Ndiaye-Diatta said. "In the second half,
we cut down on turnovers. We took care of the ball. We were
ready for it tonight, trying to get to the playoffs."
If the Mystics lose to Cleveland on Wednesday and the Shock beat
the Liberty, Detroit gets the final Eastern Conference berth.
Palmer finished 6-of-10 from the floor, 5-of-7 at the line,
grabbed six rebounds and handed out four assists in 27 minutes.
Ndiaye-Diatta shot 9-of-15 with eight rebounds in 34 minutes.
Detroit's dynamic duo combined to fuel a 20-4 run that opened
the second half and gave the Shock a 42-35 lead with 13:13 to
play. Indiana did not seriously challenge thereafter, losing to
Detroit for the third time in as many meetings.
"It was divine intervention," Palmer said. "It's not over till
we say it's over."
Kara Wolters and Rita Williams scored 14 points apiece for the
Fever (8-23), who have lost five of six and end their inaugural
season against Charlotte on Wednesday.
Ndiaye-Diatta came out on fire in the second half, burying three
straight jumpers to get the Shock within 31-30 with 17:45 to
play.
Palmer made a layup and Anna DeForge knocked down a 3-pointer to
put Detroit ahead to stay, 37-35, with 14:31 remaining. Elena
Tornikidou's free throws just over a minute later capped the
decisive run, giving the Shock a 42-35 cushion.
Claudia Maria das Neves scored 12 points for Detroit, which shot
47 percent (27-of-57) and scored 19 points off turovers.
The Fever shot 42 percent (25-of-60).
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WNBA Scoreboard
RECAPS
Orlando 65
Washington 57
Detroit 74
Indiana 63
Houston 71
Phoenix 54
Utah 83
Portland 73
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Anna DeForge knocks down a 3-pointer for the Shock.
avi: 770 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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