North Carolina State University Athletics
Stinson Erupts for 27
6/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
June 19, 2002
By JENNA FRYER
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - There's something about playing at home that makes Andrea Stinson a little more aggressive and gives Allison Feaster the confidence to let the ball fly.
Neither player knows exactly what it is about Charlotte, but when they're home, the Sting find a way to win.
Stinson, a former NC State star, had a season-high 27 points and 10 rebounds and Feaster added 16 points and a season-high eight rebounds Wednesday night as the Sting remained undefeated at home with a 78-64 victory over Washington that snapped the Mystics' six-game winning streak.
"I know we can lose here, but right now I feel very, very comfortable here," said Feaster, who was 4-of-9 from 3-point range.
It was a breakout for Feaster, who came into the game in a 14-of-57 slump over the past seven games. It's no coincidence that the Sting (4-5), who are 0-5 on the road, struggle when Feaster is off.
"It's part of basketball, sometimes you can't miss and sometimes you can't hit anything," she said. "Tonight we had a game plan to attack the entire game and it helped me get into an offensive rhythm."
So did Stinson, who scored 13 points in the first half and had Charlotte's second double-double of the season.
"We love it at home," she said. "I wish we could just figure out how to pack it in a bag and when we get to where we're going, let it out. We'll figure it out on the road soon, but until then, we'll take these."
Tammy Sutton-Brown added 12 points and Charlotte Smith had 10 for the Sting.
Chamique Holdsclaw led Washington with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Vicky Bullett scored 11 points for the Mystics, who are still a franchise-best 7-2 and in the midst of turning around last season's WNBA-worst 10-22 mark.
"We just got a little rattled," Holdsclaw said. "We're a young team and we have to become smarter basketball players."
That includes Washington rookie Stacey Dales-Schuman, who averages 12.4 points but was held scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting.
"We wanted to hold her below her average, which we were able to do," Charlotte coach Anne Donovan said. "She's a difficult guard, but we were fairly focused on that."
Charlotte scored the final five points of the first half to take a 34-27 lead, then continued to roll at the start of the second and pulled away.
The Sting got a flurry of 3-pointers from Feaster in a 19-7 run that put Charlotte in front. Feaster, who set the franchise record for 3-pointers in a season last year, hit her third 3 of the run to make it 53-36 with 13:00 to play.
The Mystics were able to pull within 64-55, but Holdsclaw was called for an offensive foul that disallowed a basket and the Sting came back with a strong layup from Sutton-Brown to regain the momentum. Washington was never within single digits again.
The game had an NBA-feel, with potential franchise owner Steve Belkin sitting courtside with investors he hopes will help him bring an expansion team to Charlotte.
The Hornets left for New Orleans last month after 14 seasons in Charlotte, leaving the Sting as the city's only basketball team. But Hornets players David Wesley and George Lynch both made their first appearances at a WNBA game this season, as did coach Paul Silas.
The game was also a rematch for twins Coco and Kelly Miller, who were separated for the first time in their playing careers in last year's WNBA draft.
Coco, taken in the first round by Washington, started but scored just six points in 22 minutes.
Kelly, Charlotte's first-round draft pick last season, scored four points in 18 minutes as a reserve.
