CULLOWHEE, NC - Behind a dominating advantage on points in the paint and three double-figure scorers, the Charlotte 49ers (7-2) overpowered the Western Carolina Catamounts (1-6), 66-51, on the road for their fourth straight double-figure win.
"I was proud that we were able to get a win," Charlotte coach Karen Aston said. "I thought we would be lethargic tonight after how sluggish we looked in shoot around earlier today. However, it is good to win by 15 points without playing your best."
Paige McCallum led the 49ers with a career-high 18 points with 12 of those points coming in the first half. Epiphany Woodson scored 14 points in the game. She also dished out six assists. Shannon McCallum rounded out the 49ers' double-figure scorers with 13 points with 11 of those 13 points coming in the first half.
The 49ers behind the scoring of the McCallum sisters inside enjoyed a dominating 44-12 advantage on points in the paint.
The 49ers also enjoyed a 45-31 advantage on the boards. Shannon and Paige McCallum each grabbed nine rebounds.
The lead exchanged hands a couple of times over the first six minutes of the game. Then, Paige McCallum connected on a baseline jump shot with 14:07 left in the half giving the 49ers the lead for good.
With the 49ers leading Western Carolina, 13-12, with 10:10 left in the first half, the 49ers went on a 13-2 run over the next six minutes taking a 26-14 lead when Shannon McCallum knocked down a three from the wing with 4:34 left in the half.
The Catamounts went on a 5-0 run over the next minute cutting Charlotte's lead to 26-19. Then, the 49ers went on an 8-0 run over the final three minutes of the half taking a 34-19 halftime lead after Paige McCallum scored inside with 17 seconds left.
Charlotte maintained a double-figure lead for the entire second half. The closest the Catamounts would get to the 49ers was 11 points, 51-40, with 7:40 left in the game. Then, Charlotte went on a 13-1 run over the next five minutes taking a 64-41 lead when Shannon McCallum scored on a fast break layup with 2:53 left in the game.
Western Carolina scored 10 of the game's final 12 points cutting Charlotte's final margin of victory to 66-51.
The 49ers return home to Halton Arena where they face VCU, Saturday, December 11 at 1 pm.
