Charlotte, NC – Behind a dominating effort on the boards and a well-rounded offensive attack, the Charlotte 49ers (2-0) cruised past Arkansas State, 78-48, in Halton Arena.
“I was very pleased with our efforts on the boards,” Charlotte coach Cara Conseugra said. “Our rebounding was all about effort today. We went after the basketball. We were very pleased with our quick start to the game which is something we talked about yesterday in practice. After Friday night’s game we knew that we needed to get off to a better start.”
The 49ers finished with a 61-20 advantage on the boards. The 49ers’ 61 rebounds are tied for the eighth highest single-game total in school history. Amanda Dowe and Jennifer Hailey grabbed 10 rebounds apiece. Gabby Tyler grabbed eight rebounds. Katie Meador grabbed six rebounds. Jai Forney and Epiphany Woodson contributed five rebounds apiece. Every 49er that played grabbed at least one rebound.
Charlotte enjoyed a 46-18 advantage on points in the paint. The 49ers enjoyed a 19-2 advantage in second chance points.
Woodson led the 49ers with 15 points. Tyler nearly recorded a double-double with 13 points and eight rebounds. Hillary Sigmon came off the bench to score 11 points including a perfect three-for-three from the beyond the three-point line. Hailey scored nine points. Dowe and Meador added seven points apiece. The 49ers bench behind the scoring a Hailey, Sigmon and Meador enjoyed a 31-3 advantage in bench scoring.
Charlotte began the game with a 16-0 run behind the scoring of Woodson, Dowe, Forney and Tyler. Woodson scored seven points during the run. Charlotte’s defense, which held Arkansas State to 29% shooting for the game, did not allow the first basket by Arkansas State until the 14:48 mark of the first half.
Charlotte pushed their lead to a first-half high 22 points, 32-10, when Tyler connected on a layup at the 7:47 mark. Arkansas State cut the 49ers lead to 36-20 when Jane Morrill knocked down two free throws with just over three minutes left in the half. However, that would be as close as Arkansas State would get to the 49ers as Woodson answered the Morrill free throws with a jump shot from the wing giving the 49ers a 38-20 halftime lead.
Charlotte began the second half with a 6-0 run pushing their lead to 44-20 when Ayanna Holmes connected on a layup at the 17:47 mark. Charlotte maintained a lead of a 20-28 points until a three-pointer by Sigmon and a layup by Hailey gave the 49ers their largest lead, 78-46, with 1:01 on the clock. Arkansas State’s Quinishia McDowell connected on a jump shot with 46 seconds on the clock cutting Charlotte’s final margin of victory to 78-48.
Charlotte goes on the road for the first time in the 2011-12 season when they travel to ACC foe Virginia Tech, Wednesday, November 16 at 7 pm.
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