WASHINGTON (AP) Tamika Catchings solidified her case for WNBA Rookie of the Year honors Tuesday night with 28 points and 10 rebounds as the Indiana Fever handed the Washington Mystics their seventh consecutive loss, 64-55.

"The thought has crossed my mind, just because everybody keeps bringing it up," Catchings said of her chances to win the award. "But more than anything, what I really want is to make the playoffs, and that's what I'm trying to do."

Catchings hit 10 of 20 shots, including 5-of-12 3-pointers, and got her 10th double-double of the season. Her biggest shot came with 4:04 remaining, a desperation 3-pointer that just beat the 30-second shot clock to give the Fever a 57-48 lead.

"Sometimes you're on and sometimes you're not," Catchings said. "They just kept leaving me open at the three-point line. I thought I might as well just take the shot instead of driving in and getting my shot blocked or not getting a foul called. They left me open, so I just shot my threes."

Catchings, who ranks in the WNBA's top 10 in five individual statistical categories, is the only player in the league to lead her team in scoring, rebounding and assists. She also leads the Fever (13-15) in steals, blocks, minutes and 3-point field-goal percentage.

"She's done it all year long for us, but the thing she's doing better now is making better decisions," Indiana coach Nell Fortner said. "She's just playing smart, cutting her turnovers down and getting other people involved."

Coco Miller and Helen Luz hit back-to-back 3-pointers for Washington (15-13) to make it 59-55 with 2:34 left, but that was as close as the Mystics would get as they missed two layups and a pair of short jumpers in the final 41 seconds.

Miller led the Mystics with 12 points. Chamique Holdsclaw, playing on two sore ankles, had 11 points and nine rebounds. Asjha Jones added 11 points.

"My ankles hurt, and it's frustrating because you go out there and your team's losing," Holdsclaw said. "This is probably my worst game of the season. I'm trying to come back and play through it, and it's just frustrating. It just seems like when it rains, it pours. ... My emotions right now are just kind of shot."

Olympia Scott-Richardson had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana.

Catchings scored six points in a 9-0 run that gave the Fever a 42-35 lead with 13 minutes remaining.

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