Traci Ray led the 49ers with 11 points to go along with a career-high seven rebounds. |
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Ray, Burgin and Gregory Paced The 49ers To A 53-44 Win Over Massachusetts
Jan. 15, 2008
Charlotte, NC - The Charlotte 49ers (11-7, A-10: 2-0) behind three double-figure scorers led by Traci Ray's 11 points held off the Massachusetts Minutewomen (8-8, A-10: 1-1), 53-44, for their fifth straight victory in their Atlantic 10 home opener Tuesday afternoon at Halton Arena. With the victory, the 49ers have now won seven straight conference home openers.
"I am proud of our team that we were able to overcome a rough shooting game to get a win," Charlotte coach Karen Aston said. "We were taking good shots that we normally make but we were just not making them today. We relied on our defense and rebounding to defeat a good Massachusetts team. We pride ourselves on rebounding and we won the rebounding battle today. Sabrina Gregory gave us another solid performance. Danielle Burgin's defense on Massachusetts' Kate Mills was a huge factor in winning today's game. I am proud of our team's effort and this was another very good team win."
Ray, who knocked down three three-point field goals, was joined in double-figures by Gregory and Burgin, who each chipped in with 10 points. Burgin also led the 49ers on the boards with nine rebounds, followed closely by Erin Floyd with eight, while Ray and Gregory pulled down seven apiece.
The 49ers grabbed 46 rebounds in the game which led to a 13-2 advantage on points in the paint. Charlotte's defense limited UMass to 27.4% and 13.3% from beyond the arc.
Charlotte opened the game with four straight points on two jumpers from Aysha Jones, but the Minutewomen answered, tying the game for the first of five times during the contest.
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Following the opening couple of minutes, the largest lead the 49ers would enjoy in the first half was four points, 11-7, at the 10:48 mark, after a Ray three-point field goal and a layup from Shannon McCallum.
Charlotte entered the locker room at the half with a one-point advantage, 21-20, built on 10 points in the paint and eight points off the bench in the period.
The 49er defense held Massachusetts scoreless for the first four minutes of the second half, building a seven-point lead, 27-20, behind the scoring of Floyd and Burgin.
UMass would go on a 7-2 run behind the scoring of Pam Rosanio to cut Charlotte's lead to 29-27 with 15:03 left in the game.
Ray knocked down a three-point field goal which stopped the UMass run pushing Charlotte's lead to five points, 32-27, with 14:28 left in the game.
UMass would cut Charlotte's lead to three points again on Rosanio's jump shot at the 14:07 mark but that would be as close as the Minutewomen would get to the 49ers. Baskets from Burgin and Gregory pushed Charlotte's lead to seven points, 36-29, with 8:38 on the clock.
The 49ers would maintain a lead of 4-7 points for the next four minutes. Then, behind a jump shot from Burgin and a tip-in from Gregory, Charlotte would push their lead to a game-high nine points, 45-36, with 4:30 left in the contest.
UMass did not go away as a three-point field goal from Stefanie Gerardot capped off a 7-2 run which cut Charlotte's lead to 47-43 with 2:20 left in the contact.
However, a Floyd layup and free throws from Ray and Wendy Stywalt down the stretch made the final score, 53-44.
Charlotte, who welcomed Lake Norman Charter School, Charlotte Christian and Sugar Creek Charter School for Education Day, returns to action Saturday, January 19 at home against Atlantic 10 foe Saint Louis at 7 p.m.
