After going scoreless in the first quarter, Cheryl Ford, dropped in 24 points over the final three to set a career high. Kent Smith/NBAE/Getty Images WNBA Photo Gallery: June 22, 2006

Ford TODAY'S TOP STORY Shock Streaking: Coming into Thursday, Detroit's road record was 0-5. Maybe the room service was better in Charlotte. Cheryl Ford scored a career-high 24 points to go with 14 rebounds, leading the Shock to an 86-74 road victory over the Sting. While one unfortunate streak ended for Detroit, a better one continued as Ford's team won their third straight. Meanwhile the Sting, paced by Tangela Smith's 18 points, dropped their fifth in a row. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... Connecticut Cleans Glass: Asjha Jones collected 11 boards, and Taj McWilliams-Franklin grabbed 10 as the Sun outrebounded the Mystics by 19 in their 79-62 home win on Thursday. Going into their matchup with the Lynx, Connecticut was averaging a league-best 37.5 rebounds per contest, while corralling 5.2 boards more than their competition per game. The Sun now lead the Eastern Conference and are tied with the L.A. Sparks for the top record in the league with a 9-3 mark. Laimbeer WHAT THEY'RE SAYING "The last two years we've known her potential, but she never really embraced it. She went through the motions. But this year she's been driven to be a great player. She has all the talent in the world. If she executes, she's phenomenal." -- Detroit head coach Bill Laimbeer, on the offensive output of Cheryl Ford who is averaging a career-high 15.1 points per game this season.

Smith WHO'S HOT Katie Smith, DET: 16 pts 5-8 FG, 3-5 3-pt FG Nicole Ohlde, MIN: 16 pts 7-11 FG Seimone Augustus, MIN: 15 pts 7-14 FG

Abrosimova WHO'S NOT Svetlana Abrosimova, MIN: 2-10 FG, 7 pts Nykesha Sales, CON: 2-8 FG, 5 pts Kristen Mann, MIN: 2-9 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG, 4 pts

Mazzante SHINING OFF THE BENCH Anytime you set a career high in points while taking three less shots than your career high in attempts, you know you've had a darn good game. Charlotte's Kelly Mazzante accomplished the feat as she dropped a career-high 17 points, going 5-for-9 from the field overall and 4-for-5 from deep on Thursday. The third-year guard also added a career-high four steals in the Sting's 86-74 home loss to the Shock.

Dydek FILLING THE BOX SCORE Margo Dydek controlled the paint on Thursday, proving that the former No. 1 pick can still cut it after gracing the top of the draft board nine years ago. Dydek scored 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting, grabbed seven boards and swatted four shots as the Sun came away with a 79-62 win over the Lynx.