Shock Clinch Conference Finals Slot; Top Fever In Semis

Auburn Hills, MI (AHN) - Deanna Nolan sizzled for 21 points and grabbed six rebounds, as a fired-up Detroit Shock smothered the Indiana Fever, 80-61, Tuesday night, advancing to their third straight Eastern Conference finals.

A flipping incident in Game 2 involving Indiana's Ebony Hoffman resulted in a shoulder injury to Shock star forward Plenette Pierson.

Pierson was sidelined for Game 3, while Hoffman received a fine which infuriated the Detroit club.

The fired-up Shock crew vented their anger on the floor, scoring the game's first 12 points and finished the opening period with a 30-7 advantage.

Katie Smith pumped in 15 points while Kara Braxton chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds for the Shock.

Detroit went on to erect a 49-19 advantage at the break and never looked back the rest of the match.

Tammy Sutton-Brown led Indiana's losing cause with 20 points, while Tamika Catchings chipped in with 15 points.

Katie Douglas contributed 10 and Hoffman pulled down 10 boards for the Fever, which also lost to Detroit last season.

Alexis Hornbuckle tallied a team-high eight rebounds and added nine points, while Taj McWilliams-Franklin chipped 10 points and dished out four assists for the Shock.

Detroit will face the New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference finals.