Rockers Are Latest to Feel Stinging Sensation

The Charlotte Sting, who saved their regular season with a remarkable turnaround, extended their postseason Monday night with a 72-64 victory over the Cleveland Rockers to advance to the WNBA Eastern Conference finals.

Reserve Tonya Edwards scored 15 points, Andrea Stinson had 14, and Tammy Sutton-Brown and Shalonda Enis added 12 each as the Sting won the best-of-three series, two games to one.

Charlotte was 1-10 after a loss to Sacramento on June 24, but has won 19 of 24 since.

The Sting built a 13-point lead in the second half and held off the Rockers, whose season ended with only their third loss in 18 home games this season.

Charlotte’s bench outscored Cleveland’s, 30-14, and after being outrebounded badly in Game 2, the Sting dominated the boards, 35-19.

Merlakia Jones led Cleveland with 13 points, but the Rockers couldn’t get the big rebound or defensive stop in the final two minutes and watched their season end with another postseason loss.

Two of Cleveland’s home losses this season came against the Sting, who also made the conference finals in 1999.

The Sting will face the winner of the Miami-New York semifinal series in the best-of-three conference finals. The Sol and Liberty, tied 1-1, will play a decisive Game 3 tonight at Madison Square Garden.