​INDIANAPOLIS — Sophie Cunningham bounced back from Sunday’s stinker against the Mystics in impressive fashion Tuesday, netting 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting with three 3-pointers in 29 minutes, 9 seconds, helping the Indiana Fever to a 96-77 win over the Minnesota Lynx.The veteran wing also pulled in a couple rebounds, dished out two assists and logged a plus-17 rating.Coach Stephanie White said the Fever “made a conscious effort” to make the extra pass and find Cunningham when she was open. “And she stepped up and knocked them down.””I thought her activity level on the defensive end and her aggressiveness was really good,” White said. “Her communication was really good. I’m proud of her bounceback.”Buy Caitlin Clark merch!Cunningham was benched for the entirety of the second and third quarters vs. the Mystics, finishing the game with zero points on 0-for-2 shooting and a minus-11 rating in a season-low 7:09.It was a precipitous drop in minutes for Cunningham, who was averaging over 22 minutes through her first 41 games.White said Sunday the Fever needed to do a better job getting Cunningham the ball in positions to make shots, but added they need her to contribute defensively and on the glass.”I’m used to having to work through things,” Cunningham said following Tuesday’s game.”I could have had an attitude kind of, somewhat, after the Washington game, but no, I had to get work. I had to look at myself in the mirror. What can I do better?” she said. “And defensively, it’s one of those things that I can’t (not) show up. The team relies on me for that and if it’s not that, it’s my communication, my energy. I just wanted to come in, be a pro and lock in. And I think I did that.”Likes, dislikes: Caitlin Clark powers Indiana Fever to win vs Lynx. What it means for playoff seedingPregame thoughts: Indiana Fever veterans turn page from benchingTuesday’s outing also marked a potential break from a shooting slump for Cunningham, whose 11 points were her most since she dropped 13 at Toronto on Aug. 18 (seven games). Her 57% conversion rate from the field and 50% mark from 3 were her best in five games.Cunningham was averaging 3.2 points on 30.4% shooting (21.1% 3FG) over her past six games. Despite the slip in production, her minutes played held steady at 17.6 per game.”For all of us, the ball movement in the first half was probably the best ball movement we’ve had all year and that is perfect timing,” Cunningham said. “We have to click at this time (of year) and honestly, defensively, we were on a string, too. We were aggressive and our mindset was to be the aggressors. And I think we did that. We really dialed in.”The Fever close out the regular season Thursday at Minnesota. Game 1 of the first round, time and opponent to be determined, will be Sunday.Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar