North Carolina State University Athletics
Stinson's Heroics Keep Sting's Season Alive
8/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Aug. 26, 2001
New York (AP)--Of all the games that Andrea Stinson has played for the Charlotte Sting--and she's played in all 170 of them since the franchises inception---few have ever been as good as Sunday's.
The former NC State star took over in the second half, scoring 16 of her team's final 22 points as the Sting, facing playoff elimination, defeated the New York Liberty 62-53.
"It ranks right at the top," Stinson said. "One of those games when we were challenged on every possession, but playoff games are what you love."
With its win, the Sting forced a decisive game three to be played on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. The winner will move on to the WNBA Championship Series beginning Thursday night.
Stinson finished with 18 points, eight assists and eight rebounds for the Sting, which dropped game one when it allowed the Liberty to score the game's final 13 points.
Stinson had only two points before converting a basket to tie the game at 42-42 six minutes into the second half. She added a three-pointer for a 49-48 lead with nine minutes left, and then came up with a steal and layup that pushed Charlotte out in front 51-48.
Stinson added another three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to give the Sting a 56-50 edged with five minutes remaining.
"I wanted them to think I was driving to the basket, then I stepped back and shot it. That's what you've got to do sometimes," Stinson said.
For good measure, Stinson sealed it by scoring four straight points with less than a minute left to give the Sting and insurmountable 62-53 lead.
