LOS ANGELES SPARKS 66, CHARLOTTE STING 64

Facing the WNBA’s best team in the final game of an eight-game homestand, the Sting knew they had their work cut out for them heading into Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Riding a three-game losing streak and with the odds stacked against them, Charlotte refused to back down to the Sparks, pushing them to the limit on their home court before eventually falling, 66-64.

The Sting had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Tangela Smith was unable to convert a layup with 6.9 seconds remaining. Following her miss, Smith managed to force a jump ball with Los Angeles’ Tamara Moore and tipped the ball to Helen Darling with 5.6 seconds remaining.

Unfortunately for Charlotte, Darling’s last-second shot did not fall, allowing the Sparks to come away with the sixth win in their past eight contests.

Smith paced the Sting with her second double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) of the season, followed by Tammy Sutton-Brown with 12 points, and Monique Currie and Sheri Sam with 10 points apiece.

Trailing 57-51 following a three-pointer by the Sparks Chamique Holdsclaw, Smith took control for Charlotte, scoring nine of her 17 points in the final five minutes and bringing it to within 63-62 with 1:10 remaining.

Murriel Page and Currie traded pairs of free throws in the next 40 seconds, and Temeka Johnson connected on 1-2 from the charity stripe with 15.2 seconds remaining, giving the Sting the chance to tie.

Holdsclaw led Los Angeles with 19 points -- including nine of her own in the fourth stanza -- and 12 rebounds, followed by All-Star Lisa Leslie and Johnson with 11 more each.

Neither team was able to take control of the game early on, as the teams closed the first quarter tied, 16-16. Both teams continued to sputter offensively in the second quarter, with the Sparks outscoring Charlotte 9-8 and taking a 25-24 lead into the break.

The Sting put the pressure on Los Angeles early in the third, opening the quarter on a 10-4 run to take a 34-29 lead. However, the Sparks caught fire at the end of the frame, outscoring Charlotte 7-2 and opening a 47-43 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

The Sting now head to Sacramento where they will take on the Monarchs at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.

HEAD COACH MUGGSY BOGUES SAYS... (On tonight’s loss) I don’t know what else our girls could do. Sometimes that’s just the way it bounces, the girls played hard. We have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball; we had way too many turnovers tonight. (On the last 15 seconds) We wanted to get the ball to Tangela and we did. Tangela made a good play she took the ball to the hole aggressive and put the pressure on. Unfortunately she just couldn’t get the call or the ball to fall. INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM TAMMY SUTTON-BROWN (On tonight’s loss) We fought hard tonight. LA has always been a great team; they’ve got some great players. We just have to learn to close out games in the end.

July 8, 2006 Team 1 2 3 4 TOT CHA 16 8 19 21 64 LA 16 9 22 19 66 STAR OF THE GAME TANGELA SMITH 17 points 10 rebounds 7-17 FGs SUB OF THE GAME LaTOYA BOND 4 points 1 assist 2 steals STAT OF THE GAME THREE-POINT PCT. Charlotte - .125 (2-16) Los Angeles - .333 (2-6) HUSTLE BOARD Team REB STL BLK TOT CHA 41 8 7 56 LA 40 12 5 57