It was a game that some fans declared ugly, but Shock fans are no doubt pleased that their team came away with a 68-56 win over the Fever in Indy to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith were huge for the Shock. They both played 40 minutes and combined to outscore the Fever's starting backcourt 35-11. Nolan was 9-11 from the field and Smith was 4-8 from 3 point range, including a dagger with 2:24 left in the game that extended a four point lead to seven. Before Smith's three, Catch had nearly brought her team back with a 10-2 run.

"Having Katie Smith out there gives us a brain out there, a determined person," Bill Laimbeer said. "She's not going to let us fall backward." Smith and Nolan also helped compensate for foul trouble that limited Cheryl Ford's minutes and caused frustration for the All-Star and her coach.

Laimbeer, who guaranSheed the win to Shock fans at their last home game, continued to entertain the media with his humility. "The one thing I wish they were like me, that every minute of every game, they were as focused as I was on the task at hand. If they ever got to that point, oh my God, watch out, we're the best basketball team in the world."

In the end, Laimbeer may be right. His team appears to be too deep and talented for the Fever to take two games in Detroit. Fever fans hope both Tully and Catch are right though. "We can win there," Catchings said. "We can win at the Palace."