Sabrina Gregory recorded her first career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. |
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Gregory's Double-Double Leads 49ers To 67-57 Win At Duquesne In Their A-10 Opener
Jan. 12, 2008
Pittsburgh, PA - The Charlotte 49ers (10-7, A-10: 1-0) behind Sabrina Gregory's first career double-double defeated the Duquesne Dukes (9-7, A-10: 0-1) on the road for their fourth straight win in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams. The victory was the 49ers sixth straight conference opening win.
"We knew that this was going to be a tough game and it was," Charlotte coach Karen Aston said. "It is great to get a conference road win to start the A-10 season. Our seniors really stepped up today. Sabrina Gregory had a big game and Whitney Hoey really gave us some quality minutes today. Tyhiesha Smith and Wendy Stywalt really stepped up in the second half. Also, in the second half, Erin Floyd and Danielle Burgin began to establish themselves inside. This was a very good team win."
Gregory paced the 49ers with 20 points with 18 of those points coming in the second half. She also recorded her first career double-figure rebounds game with a game-high 11 boards for her first career double-double. Burgin and Aysha Jones each scored eight points apiece. Traci Ray tallied seven points and Floyd, Smith and Stywalt each scored six points apiece.
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"The thing that is great about Sabrina Gregory she seems to know what our team needs from her each game," Aston said. "In the second half, she figured that she needed to score for us to win the game."
The 49ers went 28-for-55 from the field to shoot 50.9% while limiting Duquesne to 18-for-62 for 29% from the field.. The 49ers outscored Duquesne 32-20 in the paint and they enjoyed an 18-8 advantage in points off the bench.
In the first half, the 49ers scored the game's first six points behind a jump shot from Floyd and back-to-back baskets from Jones. The 49ers increased their lead to 13-4 when Burgin scored on a layup with 13:29 left in the half.
Then, Duquesne went on a 24-5 run over the next eight minutes taking a 28-18 lead when Lauren Reinshuttle knocked down a three with 5:57 left on the clock.
With Duquesne leading by ten points, 30-20, with 4:09 on the clock, the 49ers would scored 13 of the half's final 19 points capped off by a Shannon McCallum three-point field goal with 16 seconds left in the half. McCallum's three cut Duquesne's lead to 36-33 at halftime.
In the second half, Jones connected on a jumpshot 25 seconds in the half cutting Duquesne's lead to 36-35. Duquesne would push their lead back to four points but the 49ers behind a basket from Stywalt and a three-point play from Gregory tied the score for the second time, 44-44, with 14:20 left in the second half.
Duquesne would push their lead back to four points after Kristi Little, who scored 20 points in the game, knocked down a three-point field goal making the score 49-45, with 13:40 left in the game.
The 49ers would tied the score for a third time after Gregory's layup with 12:35 left in the half. Duquesne's Little scored on a layup giving Dukes their final lead, 51-49, with 12:15 left in the half.
Then, Charlotte went on a 16-4 run over the next nine minutes to take a 65-55 lead with 3:52 left on the clock. Gregory scored 10 points during the 49ers run.
Duquesne would cut the Charlotte lead to eight behind two free throws from Keri Pryor but a Burgin layup with 1:07 left on the clock made the final score, 67-57.
The 49ers hosts Massachusetts in their Atlantic 10 home opener, Tuesday, January 15 at Halton Arena in a special Education Day start time of 12 pm.
