RICHMOND, VA - The Charlotte 49ers (16-5, A-10: 4-2) behind a dominating performance in the paint led by Jennifer Hailey's double-double defeated the Richmond Spiders (13-7, A-10: 4-2), 73-62, on the road for their seventh straight road win.
"I thought our experience down the stretch was the difference," Charlotte coach Karen Aston said. "I thought Kendria Holmes was really good today. She did a lot of things for our team that did not show up in the boxscore. The leadership of Kendria and Shannon McCallum down the stretch came to the forefront. Jennifer Hailey was terrific today. I am really proud of her."
Hailey recorded her fifth double-double of the season with a career-high 26 points and a career-high tying 14 rebounds. Hailey had 17 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Kendria Holmes, who went over the 1,000 career point mark for her collegiate career, tallied 12 points in the game. Gabby Tyler added eight points off the bench.
The 49ers behind the scoring of Hailey and Tyler dominated in the paint with a 52-28 advantage on points in the paint. The 49ers finished the game with a 53-42 advantage on the boards. Hailey led the 49ers with 14 rebounds. Paige McCallum recorded her first career double-figure rebounding game with 11 boards.
The game was tight with several lead changes over the first five minutes. Richmond took an 11-10 lead at the 15:10 mark, then the 49ers went on a 15-4 run over the next seven minutes taking a 25-15 lead at the 8:34 mark. Hailey scored the 49ers' first ten points.
With the 49ers leading Richmond, 27-17, at the 5:46 mark, the Spiders went on a 7-0 run cutting the 49ers lead to 27-24 when Crystal Goring scored inside at the 4:40 mark.
The 49ers extended their lead to eight points after consecutive baskets inside by Tyler and Hailey. Richmond's Abby Oliver knocked down a jump shot with six seconds on the clock cutting the 49ers' halftime lead to 35-29.
Richmond began the second half by scoring eight of the first ten points tying the game at 37 when Kara Powell knocked down two free throws with 17 minutes left in the second half.
The 49ers were able to regain the lead a couple times over the next nine minutes but Charlotte was not able to pull away from Richmond. Then, Richmond's Oliver knocked down a three from the wing giving the Spiders a 55-52 lead at the 7:23 mark.
Charlotte went on an 11-0 run over the next four minutes regaining the lead for good. Amanda Dowe completed an old-fashioned three-point play which put the 49ers on top for good at the 5:23 mark. Hailey scored four points during the run.
Charlotte converted on seven free throws in the final minute helping the 49ers close out the 73-62 road win.
Charlotte continues their season-high three-game road swing at Saint Louis, Sunday, January 30 at 3 pm.
