INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Ebony Hoffman has embraced her role as one of the Indiana Fever's go-to players this season.
The Indiana forward had career highs with 23 points and 13 rebounds Tuesday night and the Fever rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the Sacramento Monarchs 78-73.
Hoffman, who was the ninth overall pick by Indiana in the 2004 WNBA draft, increased her season averages to 8.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
``Night in and night out, she's a warrior for us,'' said Fever guard Katie Douglas. ``She's been playing very well when a lot of us haven't. Tonight, she stepped up with another huge performance.''
Hoffman, who also tied a career high with four steals, said her effort would have been meaningless without a victory.
``I don't think anything means as much if you don't win,'' she said. ``You can score 40, but if you lose, it would be a catastrophe. I'm glad we came out, dug down deep and pulled out the victory.''
Douglas finished with 20 points after starting 0-of-6 from the field and Tully Bevilaqua scored 11 for the Fever (7-6), who tied a franchise record for the second largest regular-season comeback. Indiana overcame a 19-point deficit to beat Phoenix on July 1, 2001.
``We were out there jogging around and not really playing good defense, but we came back in the second half and played Fever defense,'' Hoffman said. ``That's the type of defense we play.''
Ticha Penicheiro had 15 points and Kara Lawson chipped in 12 for Sacramento (6-7), which lost its sixth consecutive game at Conseco Fieldhouse and dropped to 1-6 all-time in Indianapolis.
``This was a shame,'' said Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek. ``It hurt us a lot and it was frustrating.''
Sacramento shot 61 percent in the first quarter and jumped out to a quick double-digit lead. Scholanda Robinson's 3-pointer gave the Monarchs a 31-16 advantage to end the period.
The Fever, who trailed by 18 early in the second quarter, got within 39-32 on Sherill Baker's free throw with 2 minutes left. Sacramento pushed the lead back to 15 points before settling for a 47-36 halftime advantage.
``It obviously wasn't the type of start we wanted,'' Douglas said. ``It wasn't something we expected or really wanted.''
The Fever used a 7-0 run midway through the third quarter to cut the deficit to 50-48, and they closed to 58-57 on Tamika Catchings' two free throws. Sacramento shot 1-of-12 from the field in the period.
Indiana tied the score at 60 on Hoffman's jumper early in the fourth quarter, and Allison Feaster's 3-pointer gave the Fever their first advantage since leading 8-6. Indiana opened a 72-64 edge on Catchings' jumper with 2 minutes left.
``It took a great defensive effort to overcome the deficit,'' Indiana coach Lin Dunn said. ``This is the best Fever defense I've seen this season.''
Sacramento shot 37 percent for the game and made only seven field goals in the second half.
