CNN
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Caitlin Clark scored a personal-high 31 points to help the Indiana Fever defeat Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky 100-81 in a battle of the WNBA rookies on Friday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Clark, the league leader in assists per game, is considered the top two picks for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. She has been the favorite since returning from the Olympic break, leading the Fever to five wins in their last six games and setting records in the process.

“I’m just proud of our group. I think we’re just taking it day by day. Even though these games are so important, we don’t really look that far ahead,” Clark said after the game.

“It’s what’s in front of us today and just approaching it that way and that’s how you build your confidence. It’s just one day at a time, but I think our confidence is at an all-time high, as it’s been all season.”

Clark made five 3-pointers and dished out 12 assists to become the first rookie in WNBA history to score at least 30 points and 10 assists in a single game. She improved her head-to-head record against Reese in the WNBA to 3-1.

The Fever’s rookie star needs six more points to surpass Tamika Catchings (594) and earn the most points for a rookie in franchise history.

Chicago jumped out to an early 13-point lead in the first quarter before Indiana came back to lead 47-42 at the break. However, the Fever pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Sky 31-22 in the third quarter to take a 14-point lead heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter was more of the same as the Fever’s lead grew to as much as 27 points in the victory.

With three weeks left in the regular season, Friday’s win moves Indiana to 16-16 on the season and sixth in the standings. The turnaround to become a playoff contender is impressive considering the Fever started the season with a 3-10 record, second-worst in the league at that time.

Clark was asked if she had confidence the team could turn it around after the rough start to the season, saying, “Yeah, I mean, I definitely did. I remember saying earlier in the season, I know there’s going to be a point where we look back on this later in the season and think, this 1-8 start is going to help us later, and I think that point is now.”

Meanwhile, the Sky’s loss is their sixth in their last seven games since returning from the Olympic break, partly due to the team’s offensive struggles, and they are on the verge of falling out of the playoffs. Chicago sits in eighth place in the standings with an 11-20 record, one game ahead of the Atlanta Dream for the final playoff spot.

Reese, who leads the league in rebounds per game, finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds for her 23rd double-double of the season, passing Tina Charles for the most rebounds per game for a rookie in WNBA history.