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Saturday, Jun. 3 7:30pm ET
Sol go OT to get first victory | |||||
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BOX SCORE
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Marlies Askamp knew it would be hard to get around Summer Erb. But she figured if she kept trying, eventually she could wear the rookie out. Her plan worked as Askamp scored seven of her team-high 19 points in overtime Saturday night to lead the expansion Miami Sol to a 74-63 victory over the Charlotte Sting, their first franchise victory. The 6-foot-5 Askamp was held in check through most of regulation by Charlotte centers Rhonda Mapp and the 6-foot-6 Erb. But Mapp fouled out with 1:20 to play in regulation leaving Erb, who missed almost all of the preseason with injuries, to handle her alone. "She's very big so it's very tough to do much on her," Askamp said. "But she's young, so I thought if I could stay with her and make her play physical it wouldn't be long before I could get past her." Askamp did just that in overtime. She opened the extra period with a driving layup through the lane to give the Sol a 61-59 lead. Neisa Johnson tied it for the Sting with a jumper at the other end, but Askamp drew a foul on Erb and gave the Sol the lead for good when she made one of two free throws. After a Charlotte turnover, she forced past Erb again for another layup that gave Miami a 64-61 lead with 2:39 to go. Erb then went to the bench and Askamp put the finishing touches on her scoring with another layup that put the Sol up 66-63. "That's a tough situation for Summer," Charlotte coach T.R. Dunn said. "She's a first-year player and she's going to be good, but Askamp is a veteran and was able to get free on her late. Summer still has a ways to go, all first year players have growing pains." Sheri Sam, picked up off waivers earlier this week, came off the bench to score 14 points for Miami (1-1). Shantia Owens and Umeki Webb scored 10 each. Andrea Stinson led Charlotte (0-2) with 22 points. Mapp added 11 and Johnson scored 10. Charlotte was clinging to a 59-58 lead when Askamp and Erb got tangled going for a rebound under the Sol basket, resulting in a jump ball with 13 seconds to play. It was the second jump ball the two had drawn in the final 30 seconds of regulation and Askamp won both. "She's a good player with some nice moves," said Erb, Charlotte's first-round draft pick out of North Carolina State. "I'm still getting used to the pro game," she said. "It's a little more physical and a little faster and it seems the talent level is a lot higher." Miami's Debbie Black was fouled after the second jump as she and Tracy Reid dove for the loose ball. Black wen to the line, missed the first free throw but hit the second to tie the game at 59 with 10.5 seconds to play. The Sting missed a chance to win it in regulation when Johnson's 3-point attempt bounced off the rim at the buzzer. Miami, which blew a 17-point second-half lead in its season opening loss to Indiana on Thursday, squandered a 10 point lead to Charlotte before winning in regulation. "This felt good from where we were two days ago," Askamp said. "We were down, but to come back together like this and do it on the road, then rally to win in overtime is fantastic." | ALSO SEE WNBA Scoreboard RECAPS Cleveland 72 Washington 49
Miami 74
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