Charlotte Sting Weekly Update
Published on August 22, 2005 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Charlotte Sting News Release
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Team Leaders Date Opp. Result Pts. Rebs. Asts.
8/18 @ CON L, 70-84 Smith-15 Sutton-Brown-6 Matter-4
Sutton-Brown-4 Point guard Lindsay Whalen scored a career-high 28 points to lead four Connecticut players in double figures as the Sun handed the Sting an 84-70 loss. The two teams battled close through the first half with Charlotte trailing by just two at halftime. With 17:41 left in the game, the Sun began a 23-10 run which built an 18-point lead. The Sting could not rebound from the deficit, getting no closer than 10 points the rest of the way. Tangela Smith posted 15 points to lead the Sting while Sheri Sam and Adrienne Goodson each added 10.
Date Opp. Result Pts. Rebs. Asts.
8/20 @ IND L, 53-62 Sam - 15 Smith - 7 Darling - 6
Tamika Catchings and Natalie Williams both posted double-doubles to lead the Fever to a 62-53 victory over the Sting. With the Sting trailing 45-35 with 14:35 remaining in the game, Sheri Sam scored eight points to spark an 11-3 Sting run to pull Charlotte within three. Tangela Smith connected on a three-point play to cut Charlotte's deficit to just two (51-49) with 9:06 left on the clock, but Charlotte connected on just one field goal and two free throws the remainder of the way enabling the Fever to finish the contest on an 11-4 run. Catchings finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds (10 offensive) while Williams added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Sam paced the Sting with 15 points while Smith chipped in nine. The Sting lost the battle of the boards 39-22.
STING NEWS AND NOTES
STING TO HOST FANDEMONIUM
The Charlotte Sting will host Fandemonium on Saturday, August 27 at 6 p.m. as they take on the Connecticut Sun in their season finale. The first 2,500 fans will receive WNBA basketballs. Numerous other prizes and giveaways will be awarded throughout the game as a thank you to Sting fans!
SpongeBob SquarePants will make an appearance at the game while halftime will feature a performance by the Quiddlers.
The night is also Bell South Recycle Night. Fans can turn in old phone books at the main entrance in exchange for a new phone book as well as a special gift.
STING ON TV
WJZY UPN-46 will broadcast the Sting's season finale against the Connecticut Sun on Saturday, August 27 at 6 p.m.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday, August 23 - vs. Detroit 7:00 p.m. - Charlotte Coliseum
After a three-game road stretch, the Sting return home to face the Detroit Shock. The Shock (15-16) are battling for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and currently hold a one game advantage over the Washington Mystics (14-17). Detroit currently leads the season series over the Sting 2-1. In the first meeting on June 10, Detroit shot 54.8% from the field as they defeated the Sting 69-55. In the second meeting on August 6, the Sting outscored the Shock 11-2 in the second overtime period to hand Detroit an 82-73 loss at the Charlotte Coliseum. Three days later, Detroit won their second game of the series defeating Charlotte 71-64. Detroit's roster features five WNBA All-Stars - Deanna Nolan, Cheryl Ford, Ruth Riley, Swin Cash and Katie Smith. Nolan leads the Shock in scoring averaging 16.2 points while Smith is averaging 10.7 points in 10 games with the Shock.
Thursday, August 25 - at New York 7:30 p.m. - Madison Square Garden
The Sting travel to New York to play their final road game of the season while the Liberty have clinched a playoff berth and currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference. New York holds a 2-1 advantage over the Sting in the season series. On June 25, Charlotte had four players score in double figures as they defeated the Liberty 67-61. On August 12, New York outscored the Sting 11-3 in the second overtime period en route to a 82-74 victory. Two days later, New York recorded their second victory of the series 73-65. Becky Hammon averages 14.3 points and 4.3 assists to lead New York while center Ann Wauters averages 13.7 points.
Saturday, August 27 - vs. Connecticut 6:00 p.m. - Charlotte Coliseum
The Sting conclude the season against the 2005 Eastern Conference Champion Connecticut Sun. The Sun hold a 3-0 lead in the season series with the Sting. Four players scored in double figures for the Sun as they defeated the Sting 64-55 on July 19. On July 22, Nykesha Sales posted 21 points en route to a 73-63 Sun victory. Lindsay Whalen posted a career-high 28 points as Connecticut defeated the Sting 84-70 in their most recent match-up on August 18. Sales leads the Sun in scoring with 15.6 points while center Taj McWilliams-Franklin posts 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds. Whalen (12.1 ppg) and Katie Douglas (11.1 ppg) also average double-figures for the Sun.
END OF AN ERA
The Charlotte Sting's run at the Charlotte Coliseum will come to end this week as they play their final two home games in the building. Since the Sting began play in the Charlotte Coliseum in 1997, the team has posted an 83-59 record in the building. The Sting will begin play in the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in the summer of 2006.
SAM ON A ROLL
Sheri Sam has been on a roll in the last six contests posting double figures in every game. Over that span she is averaging 15.5 points along with 6.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
HITTING THE BOARDS
Since Muggsy Bogues took the reins as head coach on August 3, the Sting have improved their play on the glass. In the 24 games before Bogues' appointment the Sting were averaging 25.5 rebounds per game. In the seven games since they have averaged 29.3 rebounds per game.
STING PLAYERS IN THE RANKINGS
Heading in to the final week of the regular season the Sting have three players who rank among the WNBA's statistical leaders. Tammy Sutton-Brown is ranked sixth in field goal percentage shooting 51.0% (99-194) from the floor. Allison Feaster is ranked sixth in three-point field goal percentage at 43.0% (37-86). Tangela Smith is tied for eighth in minutes per game at 34.3 and is ranked ninth in steals averaging 1.65.
OVER THE AIRWAVES
All 34 regular season games can be heard live on WNMX 106.1 FM. Veteran announcer Sam Smith calls all the action for the third consecutive season.
STING TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets at the Charlotte Coliseum ticket office, any Ticketmaster location, by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX or by logging onto www.charlottesting.com. All seats are located in the lower bowl and start as low as $10.
BOBCATS RE-SIGN RUSH AND KNIGHT
The Charlotte Bobcats continued to build their roster for the 2005-06 season as they re-signed shooting guard Kareem Rush on August 12 and point guard Brevin Knight on August 19. The Bobcats open the 2005-06 regular season at Chicago on November 2. For more information on the Bobcats please log on to BobcatsBasketball.com.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 22, 2005
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- Charlotte Sting Weekly Update - Charlotte Sting
- Next Stop: Playoffs - New York Liberty
- Detroit Shock Weekly Update - Detroit Shock
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