CHARLOTTE, NC – Behind four double-figure scorers, the Charlotte 49ers (12-6, A-10: 4-0) defeated La Salle (9-10, A-10: 3-1), 77-66, in front of a school-record crowd of 6,799 people on Education Day.
“It was a great team effort,” Charlotte coach Cara Consuegra said. “I was pleased that we improved on our free throw shooting as well as cut down on our turnovers. We really distributed the basketball well with 17 assists on 26 field goals. It was great having four players in double-figures.”
Hillary Sigmon and Jennifer Hailey led the 49ers with 17 points apiece. Sigmon’s 17 points was a career-high. Sigmon connected on three three-point field goals and was a perfect six-for-six from the line. Hailey recorded her 16th double-figure scoring game of the season Hailey also grabbed eight rebounds in the game. Epiphany Woodson recorded her 14th double-figure scoring game of the season with 14 points off the bench. Woodson needs only six points for 1,000 career points. Amanda Dowe recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Dowe also dished out four assists and tallied three blocked shots in the game. Gabby Tyler scored eight points off the bench.
The 49ers finished the game with a 36-20 advantage on points in the paint behind the scoring of Hailey, Dowe and Tyler. Charlotte’s bench behind the scoring of Woodson and Tyler finished the game with a 25-10 advantage in points. Charlotte’s defense forced 16 turnovers which led to 22 points off those turnovers.
The 49ers scored seven of the game’s first 10 points behind the scoring of Sigmon, Hailey and Dowe. La Salle went on a 9-4 run over the next four minutes taking a 12-11 lead when Jada Payne knocked down a three at the 113:17 mark. La Salle pushed their lead to a game-high six points, 25-19, when Michea Bryant connected on a three at the 7:26 mark.
Charlotte went on a 18-8 run over the next six minutes taking a 37-33 lead when Ny Hammonds connected on a jump shot in the lane with 1:12 left in the half. La Salle scored the half’s final four points tying the score at 37 at the half.
The first three minutes of the second half were tight with each team enjoying a lead until Sigmon knocked down two free throws at the 17:13 mark which gave the 49ers the lead for good. Charlotte pushed their lead to 10 points, 51-41, at the 13:37 behind a 12-1 run. Woodson capped off the 49ers run with a three from the wing at the 13:37 mark.
Charlotte pushed their lead to 55-42 when Tyler knocked down two free throws at the 11:48 mark. Then, La Salle went on a 7-0 run over the next minute cutting the 49ers lead to 55-49 when Payne knocked down a three at the 10:27 mark.
The 49ers pushed their lead back to double-figures behind the scoring Jai Forney, Woodson, Tyler and Hailey.
La Salle made one more push cutting the 49ers lead to 66-60 with 5:50 on the clock but consecutive baskets by Dowe and Woodson pushed the 49ers lead back to double-figures, 70-60, with 4:28 on the clock. La Salle cut the 49ers lead to eight points but that would be as close as they would get as Charlotte scored seven of the game’s final 11 points for the 77-66 win.
Charlotte concludes their two-game home stand when they face St. Bonaventure, who is currently tied with the 49ers atop the A-10 standings, in Halton Arena, Saturday, January 21 at 7 pm.
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