Tuesday's loss marks the third straight year the Detroit Shock has eliminated the Indianapolis Fever from the WNBA post season.

Fever lost the playoff opener at home Friday (81/72), but managed to gain an overtime win Sunday at Detroit (89/82), snapping a six-game losing streak.

Fever and Detroit battled it out again Tuesday in Game 3 for a spot in the finals.

Shock scored the games first 12 points and by the end of the first quarter were up 30 - 7. Seconds before the half, Fever's Tammy-Sutton Brown hit a layup, but Shock's Deanna Nolan responded with a jumper at the buzzer giving Detroit a 49-19 lead.

In the half Fever's Katie Douglas, Tamika Catchings and Ebony Hoffman were scoreless on 0-for-12 shooting.

During third quarter Fever managed to cut the margin to 54-41, but by the end of the third Shock moved their lead 60-43.

Final scoring of Game 3 was 80 - 61.

Shock will continue on to play New York's Liberty. Last season Shock beat Liberty in the first round of Finals.

In 2006 Shock won the title,with a near repeat in 2007. This will be their third appearance in the Finals.

Despite starting this season with a few adjustments, new coach, Linn Dunn, two new players Katie Douglas and Allison Feaster, and an injured Tamika Catchings, Fever managed to have what some are calling their best season yet.