Liberty eliminated by Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS -- In the minutes leading up to Game 3 of the WNBA's Eastern Conference semifinals, the Liberty's Kara Braxton danced in front of her bench, mustering her best impression of Toni Braxton.

Two days after saving its season, the Liberty was loose leading up to another elimination game against the Indiana Fever, who ousted the team last season. Maybe a little too loose.

The Liberty committed 20 turnovers, leading to 26 Fever points in a 72-62 loss in front of 7,368 fans at Conseco Fieldhouse Monday night.

Yet again, the Liberty found itself in comeback mode.

After surviving a 17-3 run by the Fever spanning the second and third quarters, the Liberty pulled within 57-54 on a layup by Cappie Pondexter with 5:48 left in the game but the Fever secured the win with an 11-0 run.

Tamika Catchings had five points during the spurt, including a three-pointer. Nicole Powell ended the run with a three-pointer with 1:36 left that made it 68-57.

Powell finished with 19 points and Pondexter had 11 for the Liberty.

For the Fever, Katie Douglas scored 21, Catchings had 17 and Erin Phillips added 12.

Indiana will host Atlanta on Thursday in Game 1 of the conference finals.

The start to Game 3 was a stark contrast from the opening quarter of Game 1 on Thursday. The Liberty came out more aggressively, tracking down four rebounds before four minutes ticked away. But their overzealous play cost them at times, as they were loose with the ball leading to eight first-quarter turnovers.

After trailing from the tip, the Liberty tied the score for the first time, at 17, on a three-pointer by Pondexter with 4.2 seconds left in the quarter, and then started the second with six straight points.

A 23-17 lead after Alex Montgomery's fast-break layup less than 70 seconds into the second quarter was the Liberty's largest cushion all night.

The Fever regained a brief advantage with a 7-0 run before the two traded the lead for most of the second quarter.

After a layup by Kia Vaughn gave the Liberty a 33-32 lead with three minutes left in the second quarter, the Fever closed out the first half and started the second with a 17-3 run to take a 49-36 lead with 7:38 left in the third quarter.

The emotions of the elimination game didn't take very long to emerge. With 39.1 seconds left in the opening quarter Powell and Catchings received a double technical for a scuffle that landed Catchings on the ground.