Dec. 6, 2000

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Led by Tonya Phifer's 30 points, the Charlotte 49ers women's basketball team defeated Appalachian State, 71-58, Wednesday night at Halton Arena. It was the 49ers first win at home this season.

After scoring 10 in the first half, Phifer led Charlotte (2-5) to the win with 20 in the second period. She finished the night 11-of-18 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. It was her second 30-point game of the season. Alicia Abernathy and Jennifer Williams also reached double figures for the 49ers with 10 points each. Abernathy finished the night 6-of-6 at the free throw line to run her school record for consecutive free throws made to 28 straight. Natasha Lettsome led Appalachian State (2-5) with 26 points in the loss.

"Tonya got hot for us in the second half, which helped us," head coach Ed Baldwin said. "Alicia also gave us a big lift. It's a good win, a much needed win."

In the first half, the Mountaineers took a six-point lead at the 2:23 mark, but the 49ers rallied to tie the score at 32-32 on a Tonika Smith basket eight seconds before halftime. The teams traded leads in the early minutes of the second half. Charlotte broke the game open, however, with a 12-2 run to take a 52-40 lead with 8:13 remaining. Appalachian State pulled back to within five, 52-47, with 6:30 on the clock, but Phifer slammed the door, drilling back-to-back three-pointers to thwart the Mountaineers' rally.

"I thought we played with great intensity in the second half," Baldwin said. "We came out and moved the ball against their zone and we finished shots."

Charlotte returns to action Saturday, Dec. 9, when they host S.C. State at 4:00 in Halton Arena. Tickets for all women's basketball games are $5 for adults and $2 for youth 17-and-under. Students are admitted free with ID.