RICHMOND, VA – Behind four double-figure scorers, the Charlotte 49ers (5-0) defeated VCU (2-2), 68-58, on the road to remain undefeated.
“We showed tremendous character and toughness tonight,” Charlotte coach Cara Consuegra said. “VCU is a good team and every time they made a run we answered. Epiphany and Ny stepped up and hit big shots. Jennifer and Paige were huge on the boards. I was very pleased with our overall effort tonight.”
Epiphany Woodson led the 49ers with 19 points with 17 of those points coming in the second half. Jennifer Hailey scored 18 points. Ny Hammonds and Paige McCallum tallied 11 points apiece.
The 49ers dominated the boards again finishing the game with a 48-32 advantage on the boards. McCallum led all rebounders with 11 boards giving her a second straight double-double. Hailey nearly recorded a double-double with nine rebounds. Ayanna Holmes tallied eight rebounds.
VCU began the game on a 10-2 run over the first three half minutes. The 49ers answered the run with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes taking a 13-12 lead when Holmes knocked down a three from the wing at the 10:51 mark.
The game went back and forth for the next six minutes until VCU’s Jennifer Lane connected on a three giving the Rams a 23-20 lead with 5:21 on the clock.
Charlotte scored the final four points of the first half taking a 24-23 halftime lead when Hammonds connected on a layup with five seconds left in the half.
Charlotte began the second half on a 16-7 run taking a 40-30 lead when Hailey completed a three-point play at the 13:04 mark. Hailey scored eight points during the run. Amanda Dowe and Woodson also scored during the run.
Then, VCU’s Courtney Hurt, who finished the game with 24 points, scored 14 straight points for the Rams cutting Charlotte’s lead to 44-42 when she converted on two free throws at the 8:01 mark.
Woodson answered VCU’s run with a three-point play pushing Charlotte’s lead to five points, 47-42, with 7:53 on the clock.
VCU cut Charlotte’s lead to three points on several occasions but baskets by McCallum, Hailey, Hammonds and Woodson prevented VCU was getting any closer.
VCU’s Andrea Barbour converted two free throws cutting Charlotte’s lead to 61-58 with 1:24 on the clock. However, Woodson prevented VCU from getting closer converting on a jump shot at the 1:02 mark.
The 49ers closed out the game with solid defense, rebounding and timely free throw shooting by McCallum, Woodson and Holmes down the stretch.
Charlotte continues their four-game road swing when they travel to New York for the Courtyard LaGuardia Turkey Classic, November 25-26. Charlotte faces Long Island on the road, Friday, November 25 at 2 pm.
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