Nov. 17, 2000

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - The Charlotte 49ers women's basketball team fell to Massachusetts, 64-48, Friday night in Amherst. It was the season-opener for both teams.

UMass scored 10 of the game's first 13 points to jump out to an early lead. Charlotte then went on a 6-1 run to cut the deficit to 11-9 with just over 12 minutes left in the first half.

However, UMass would increase their lead to 10 points as they led 33-23 at halftime. Quidara Russell led Charlotte with nine first half points. Russell had a stretch in the first half when she scored seven straight Charlotte points in a five-minute span beginning at the 8:32 mark.

Charlotte came out of the lockerroom on fire as they went on an 11-2 run in the first eight minuetes of the second half to cut the UMass lead to 35-34. Sarah Fisher contributed five points during the run.

This was as close as Charlotte would get as UMass guard Paige Harris scored eight straight points to increase their lead to double figures.

"We held them scoreless for the first eight minutes of the second half," Charlotte coach Ed Baldwin said. "However, you have to give UMass credit. They hung in there and maintained the lead. I feel that we did not attack their press as we had 31 turnovers in the game. We had too many turnovers and fouls. But I think we have a chance to be a pretty good basketball team."

Russell led the Niners with 11 points. While Tonya Phifer contributed 10 points in the game.

Charlotte returns to action at UNC Greensboro, Monday, November 20 at 7:00.