Charles' 22 points, 23 boards lead Sun past Sparks

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) - Tina Charles had 22 points and 23 rebounds to lead the Connecticut Sun to a 79-76 victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night.

Renee Montgomery scored 17 points, and Kara Lawson and Asjha Jones added 16 apiece for Connecticut (5-3).

Kristi Toliver had 19 points, DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 13 and laToya Pringle 11 for Los Angeles (4-4), which played its first game without Candace Parker. Parker, who tore the lateral meniscus in her right knee in Sunday's loss to the New York Liberty, will be out for about six weeks.

Montgomery scored the last four points for the Sun, including two free throws with 12.9 seconds remaining for a three-point lead.

Tina Thompson and Toliver then missed two 3-point shots each as the Sparks dropped to 0-4 on the road.