WNBA Rockers slip past Sting 59-57 in overtime win

Penny Taylor scored five of her 18 points in the extra period.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- A day after losing at the buzzer to Detroit, the Cleveland Rockers came out on the winning end against Charlotte.
Penny Taylor scored five of her 18 points in overtime Sunday, giving the Rockers a 59-57 victory over the Sting.
Chasity Melvin added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Rockers (10-10), who won despite committing 18 turnovers and giving up a 16-point first-half lead.
The Sting had a final chance to tie the game, but Tammy Sutton-Brown missed a 5-foot bank shot in the closing seconds. Shalonda Enis got the rebound and scored, but officials ruled the basket came after the buzzer.
Coming off close loss
On Saturday night, Detroit beat Cleveland 58-57 on Deanna Nolan's bucket with 2.2 seconds to play.
"I didn't know if we'd have enough energy going into overtime," Rockers coach Dan Hughes said. "That was our fourth game in six days. I'm proud of the way we fought."
Allison Feaster had 17 points for Charlotte (12-9), while Enis and Dawn Staley each scored 11. The Sting shot 37 percent en route to a third straight loss.
"We've got to find a way to win again," Feaster said. "We have to play hard all the time. We know it's possible and we'll get it back."
Enis' 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime tied at 52. But Taylor drained a 3-pointer to open the extra period and later hit two free throws to put Cleveland ahead to stay.
"That's a sign of a good team, to pull through when you are a little tired," Taylor said. "We had strong focus in the final five minutes."
The Rockers used a 12-0 run, ending with Betty Lennox's 3-pointer, to take a 27-11 lead with 8:59 left in the first half.
Sting battles back
The Sting slowly got back into the game, taking a 36-35 lead on Feaster's steal and layup with 12:31 left in the second half.
Cleveland went more than eight minutes without a field goal before Melvin's three-point play put the Rockers ahead 40-38 with 7:25 left. The lead changed hands six times before Enis' 3 sent the game to overtime.
"It shouldn't have come down to the last play, we lost today in the first 10 minutes," Sting coach Trudi Lacey said. "We didn't come ready to play. Our problem right now is a lack of confidence."