CHARLOTTE, NC – Behind a balanced scoring attack, the Charlotte 49ers (15-8, A-10: 7-2) ran past the Rhode Island Rams (1-22, A-10: 0-8), 72-35, in Halton Arena.
“Tonight was another total team win,” Charlotte coach Cara Consuegra said. “Everyone contributed to tonight’s win. I was pleased with our unselfish play with a season-high 19 assists. I thought we executed better on the offensive end of the court.”
Amanda Dowe led the 49ers with her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Dowe also recorded four steals in the game. Jennifer Hailey recorded her 20th double-figure scoring game of the season with 13 points. She also grabbed seven rebounds. Katie Meador and Epiphany Woodson scored nine points apiece off the 49ers bench. Gabby Tyler scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench. Hillary Sigmon scored seven points. Ten 49ers scored at least two points in the game.
The 49ers bench behind the scoring of Tyler, Meador and Woodson enjoyed a 31-8 advantage in scoring. The 49ers recorded a season-high tying 19 assists. Eight 49ers recorded an assist led by Jai Forney’s five assists.
The 49ers defense limited Rhode Island to 27.8% shooting from the field and just 35 points including only 16 points in the first half.
Charlotte scored nine of the game’s first 11 points taking a 9-2 lead when Sigmon knocked down a three at the 15:47 mark.
Rhode Island cut Charlotte’s lead to 12-9 at the 13:09 mark but that would be as close as the Rams would get to the 49ers. Charlotte behind the scoring of Forney, Hailey, Sigmon, Dowe, and Tyler went on a 19-2 run over the next nine minutes taking a 31-11 lead when Dowe scored on a layup at the 4:28 mark.
Charlotte scored the first half’s final eight points as they took a 44-16 halftime lead after Meador scored on a layup with eight seconds left in the half.
In the second half, Sigmon pushed the 49ers lead to 48-18 when she converted a free throw at the 17:33 mark. Charlotte maintained a lead of at least 30 points for a majority of the rest of the game. Ayanna Holmes connected on a three from the wing giving the 49ers their largest lead, 67-27, with 5:02 on the clock. Meador closed out the scoring with a three with five seconds on the clock giving the 49ers their final margin of victory.
Charlotte returns to the road for two straight A-10 games. First, the 49ers play Dayton on the road in their Education Day, Wednesday, February 8 at 11 am.
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