Charlotte, N.C. ? Katie Douglas made sure Connecticut coach Mike Thibault’s fears didn’t come true.

Douglas scored 15 points, and the WNBA-best Sun closed with a 17-2 run to beat the league-worst Charlotte Sting, 64-55, Tuesday.

“Shoot, I was nervous all last night,” Thibault said. “These are the hardest games to play. A playoff game, a national-television game, those are easy for players to get up for. No matter if they admit it or not, players look at the other team’s record and think, ‘We’ll be OK.’ It scared the heck out of me.”

Thibault had reason for concern when the Sting (3-16) built a 53-47 lead with 5:57 left. Then Connecticut (15-4) turned on the defensive intensity.

Storm 87, Liberty 78

Seattle – Iziane Castro Marques scored a career-high 20 points, and Betty Lennox added 18, leading Seattle past New York.

Comets 58, Monarchs 54

Houston – Sheryl Swoopes scored 22 points as Houston beat Sacramento for its first victory against the Monarchs in more than a year. Janeth Arcain added 10 points and five rebounds to help the Comets (12-7) move within a game of the West Division-leading Monarchs.

Lynx 66, Fever 45

Minneapolis – Vanessa Hayden scored all six of her points during a decisive 15-2 surge in the second half and grabbed seven rebounds to help Minnesota defeat Indiana. Nicole Ohlde had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Lynx, who bounced back from a 72-53 drubbing at the hands of the Connecticut Sun on Sunday to snap the Fever’s three-game winning streak.

Mystics 74, Sparks 68

Los Angeles – DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 15 points against her former team, leading Washington over Los Angeles.