Charlotte 70, Detroit 67

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 31 (UPI) -- Tammy Sutton-Brown had a pair of key baskets down the stretch Saturday night as the Charlotte Sting spoiled the Detroit Shock's season opener with a 70-67 victory.

Sutton-Brown's basket with 2:42 remaining gave Charlotte a 66-65 advantage and she added a layup with just under two minutes to go for a three-point edge. The Shock pulled within 68-67 on a pair of free throws by rookie Cheryl Ford with 47 seconds left.

Charlotte worked down the shot clock before Dawn Staley, who had 10 assists, missed a 3-pointer. But rookie Teana McKiver grabbed the offensive rebound and Andrea Stinson was fouled with one second to go. Stinson's two free throws capped the scoring.

McKiver came off the bench for 15 points and Kelly Miller added 12 for Charlotte, which won its second straight game. Sutton-Brown scored 10 points in 15 foul-plagued minutes.

Swin Cash and Elaine Powell each scored 16 points to lead Detroit, which began last season with a WNBA-record 13-game skid. Ford, the daughter of Utah Jazz star Karl Malone, finished with 15 points in her debut.