CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- If the Detroit Shock fail to make the

WNBA playoffs, they can point to their inability to beat the

league's worst team as one of the reasons.

Sheri Sam and Teana Miller scored 12 points apiece as the

Charlotte Sting damaged the Shock's playoff hopes with a 56-49

victory Tuesday night.

The Sting (5-27) overcame 18 turnovers and the absence of

leading scorer Tangela Smith to end a five-game losing streak and

win for only the second time in 17 games. Both victories were over

Detroit.

"It was apparent as soon as we got off the bus we weren't

coming to play hard," said Shock coach Bill Laimbeer, whose team

lost in double overtime to the Sting on Aug. 6. "This is one of

the worst games we've ever played. It's very disturbing."

Deanna Nolan scored 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting and

foul-plagued Ruth Riley added 12 for Shock (15-17), who shot 29

percent. Detroit fell into a tie with Washington for the fourth and

final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with two games left.

"We had some good look and we couldn't knock our shots down,"

said Shock guard Katie Smith, who had 10 points on 3-of-10

shooting. "They came out to play and simply outplayed us."

Charlotte's Smith, hampered by a bruised left knee for a week,

lost her streak of playing 223 consecutive games. Then starting

center Tammy Sutton-Brown fouled out with 3:31 left, but the Sting

held on. Kelly Mazzante's 3-pointer with 2:50 left put Charlotte

ahead 54-48. Mazzante's free throw with 14 seconds left iced it.

"I know I can come in and contribute, especially there at the

end of the game when they're playing a 2-3 zone," Mazzante said.

"I appreciate the confidence he (coach Muggsy Bogues) has in me to

put me in there."

The Sting went on a 13-1 run to take their largest lead of the

game at 45-35 on Miller's layup with 9:29 to go.

Detroit could get no closer than three points the rest of the

way thanks to long scoring droughts. Forward Cheryl Ford had 16

rebounds, but was held scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting.

"We kept Detroit out of the middle -- they only scored four

points in the paint in the second half," Bogues said. "Cheryl

Ford didn't hurt us at all tonight. You just have to tip your hat

to the ladies. Considering their record, this team could have

called it quits. But they're playing hard."

The Sting took a 24-17 lead on Adrienne Goodson's runner with

4:15 left before settling for a 27-24 halftime lead. Detroit played

the final five minutes of the half without Riley, who picked up her

third foul.

Riley was charged with her fourth foul in the first minute after

the break, and didn't return until the Shock trailed by 10 points

midway through the second half. She fouled out with 23 seconds to

go.

Now Detroit still has work to do to reach the playoffs, and

Miller is enjoying it.

"It's very satisfying," she said before breaking into

laughter. "If we can't go, we want to keep them out."