Charlotte, N.C. ? Andrea Stinson scored 17 points and Tammy Sutton-Brown added 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Charlotte Sting to a 69-58 victory over the Houston Comets Friday.

It was the fourth straight win for the Sting (4-1).

With the game tied at 53, Kelly Miller hit a three-pointer from the left corner with 6:53 left to ignite an 11-1 Sting run.

Two free throws by Sutton-Brown with 3:37 left put Charlotte up 64-54, and the Comets got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Tina Thompson had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Sheryl Swoopes added 16 points for Houston (3-3), which lost for the third time in four games.

The Eastern Conference-leading Sting took their largest lead at 45-33 on Sutton-Brown’s shot with 16:32 to go.

But Thompson, the Comets’ all-time leading scorer playing in her third game this season because of injury and suspension, took over. Thompson hit a three-pointer, a turnaround jumper and finally a breakaway layup to tie it a 49 with 9:22 left.

Stinson, starting her 191st consecutive game for the Sting, was averaging only 10.3 points a game coming into the game. She made 6 of 14 shots and hit her first two three-pointers of the season as Charlotte beat Houston for only the fourth time in 18 meetings.

The Comets, playing without injured point guard Cynthia Cooper, missed 14 of their first 16 shots. Houston signed former Clemson guard Itoro Umoh-Coleman to take Cooper’s roster spot.

Rockers 63, Mystics 53

Washington — Chasity Melvin led a balanced Cleveland offense with 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Rockers spoiled Washington’s home opener. Cleveland (2-1) took advantage of a Washington offense that struggled without top scorer Chamique Holdsclaw, out for three games because of a strained hamstring. Washington (1-3) scored just 14 points in the first half.

Liberty 70, Lynx 60

Minneapolis — Becky Hammon scored a career-high 33 points to lead New York over Minnesota. Hammon, starting in place of injured Vickie Johnson, made 12 of 16 field goals, including six three-pointers for the Liberty (2-1).

Katie Smith led the Lynx with 12 points.