Auburn Hills, MI (AHN) - Deanna Nolan scored a franchise-record 30 points to lead the Detroit Shock to an 81-65 win over the Indiana Fever in the decisive third game of the WNBA Eastern Conference Finals Monday night, sending the Shock back to the championship series to try and defend their title.

Detroit will square off with Phoenix beginning Wednesday and will be looking for its third WNBA championship if five years.

Indiana seemingly had control of the game early and led by as many as 13 points, but Tamika Catchings injured her Achilles tendon late in the first half and was unable to return, putting a severe crimp in the Fever's offense.

Nolan scored 20 of her 30 points in the first half, all coming during a critical 14-minute time frame in which the Shock tied the score at 28-28.

Detroit led 35-30 at halftime and scored the first six points of the second half before gradually pulling away, leading by as many as 20 points in the final quarter.

Swim Cash added 12 points and Katie Feenstra chipped in 11 in the win.

Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 17 to lead Indiana, while Tully Bevilaqua added 14 in the losing effort.

Detroit faced elimination after losing Game 1 of the best-or-three series, but won the last two to play its way into the Finals once again.