Sting Still Can’t Produce at Home as Mystics Prevail

The Washington Mystics can sympathize with Charlotte’s recent woes. So much so, that Coach Nancy Darsch worried her team felt too bad for the Sting.

The Mystics blew a late lead, but Nikki McCray scored four of her 18 points in the final 1:40 on Saturday night to lead Washington to a 78-74 victory over Charlotte, the Sting’s WNBA-record ninth consecutive home loss in front of 5,509 at Charlotte.

“Losing just plays mind games with you,” Darsch said. “We’ve been through it and Charlotte is now going through it, and I think we were sort of thinking about that in the second half and nearly gave this one away.”

Charlotte (2-13) has lost five in a row and 18 of its last 20 regular-season games, dating to last season. The nine consecutive home losses breaks the mark of eight, previously held by Washington.

“During our losing streak, going on the road was a blessing,” Darsch said. “We’d try to do fun things like go to amusement parks or sightseeing, anything to just laugh again. The losing can really take a toll.”

The Mystics (7-7) took their largest lead of the game on Keisha Anderson’s layup that made it 69-63 with 5:52 to play.

Chamique Holdsclaw had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Mystics.

Sacramento 108, Detroit 96--Tangela Smith and Kedra Holland-Corn scored 19 points apiece as the Monarchs (11-5) defeated the Shock (7-7) in front of 6,965 at Sacramento in a game that set a WNBA record for total points.

The victory improved Sacramento to 7-0 at home. The Monarchs established a franchise-high point total in winning for the sixth time in seven games.

Orlando 69, New York 57--Taj McWilliams scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half as the Miracle (10-6) held off the visiting Liberty (7-8) in front of 7,339.

Orlando’s Shannon Johnson had four of her game-high 23 points in a 7-0 run to end the game after New York pulled to 62-57 on Tari Phillips’ basket. Johnson also had 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double this season.

Miami 54, Indiana 52--Sheri Sam scored 22 points and the Sol (5-10) weathered a second-half rally to defeat the Fever (3-11) in front of 9,949 at Indianapolis.

Sam made two three-point baskets to open the second half as Miami went on a 14-4 run while holding Indiana to one field goal over the first eight minutes.

Utah 81, Seattle 60--Natalie Williams had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Margo Dydek added 17 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Starzz (9-8) completed a three-game season sweep of the Storm (2-12) in front of 8,260 at Seattle.