Indianapolis, IN – Shavonte Zellous drained the game-winning jumper with 0.5 seconds to go as the Indiana Fever kept their season alive with a 78-76 victory over the Connecticut Sun in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday.
With the Sun trailing, 76-74, Allison Hightower floated home a 16-footer to tie the game with 12.5 seconds left and went to the line for the back end of the three-point play with a chance to give Connecticut a one-point lead.
Hightower missed the free throw, however, and Indiana's Tamika Catchings grabbed the rebound before heaving an outlet pass down the court for Briann January.
January felt the trailing pressure on her way to the hoop, and her potential game-winning layup rolled off the iron with 5.9 seconds remaining.
January collected her own rebound and fed Zellous, who nailed a 13-footer from the left elbow, sending the Fever back to Connecticut for a deciding Game 3 on Thursday.
Zellous finished with four points and four rebounds, while Katie Douglas led the Fever with a game-high 24 points. Catchings netted 21 points in the victory for Indiana, which bounced back from a 76-64 setback in Game 1.
Kara Lawson scored 18 points, Asjha Jones added 17 points and 10 rebounds and regular-season MVP Tina Charles contributed 15 points and eight boards for the Sun, who will try to secure their first Finals appearance since 2005 in Game 3.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.