Charlotte Women’s Basketball faced a tough challenge on Wednesday evening, suffering a significant defeat against the fifth-ranked LSU Tigers with a score of 117-59 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Head Coach emphasized the importance of competition, learning, and growth for the team, noting that they struggled to play cohesively in the early stages of the game. “We came out a little flustered and played nervous,” he stated. However, he is optimistic about the lessons learned from facing a powerful team like LSU, which will help prepare the 49ers for their upcoming conference challenges.
In the first quarter, LSU showcased their offensive prowess, hitting 61.9% of their shots and making five of their seven three-point attempts. Despite this, Charlotte stayed within close range at 17-10, largely aided by seven early points from one of their key players. The team matched LSU in rebounds during the first quarter, tying at 11, showing resilience despite their size disadvantage.
The second quarter proved to be a turning point, as LSU dominated by outscoring Charlotte 26 to 5. Unable to convert on any of their 17 field goal attempts, the 49ers found themselves in a difficult position, managing only five points from free throws.
As the game progressed, contributed significantly during her time on the court, stepping up for 14 minutes at the point guard position. Coach noted her impactful performance, highlighting the hard work she had put in, which was evident as she made key contributions, including two successful three-pointers.
Leading the offensive charge for Charlotte was who scored a career-high 27 points, with 14 of those points coming in the fourth quarter alone. In addition to her scoring, the team saw contributions from other players, including eight points and nine rebounds from another teammate, as well as strong performances from and, who scored six and four points, respectively.
LSU, on the other hand, showcased their depth, with 63 of their 117 points coming from their bench while converting 34 points off turnovers. The Tigers shot nearly 50% from the field and dominated the boards with a 54-37 advantage.
Looking ahead, Charlotte will take their experiences from this tough game into the Raising the B.A.R. Invitational in Berkeley, California, where they are set to face Cal on Saturday, followed by a matchup against either Harvard or Oakland on Sunday. Although the scoreline was disheartening, the opportunity to compete against elite teams will serve as a valuable learning experience for the 49ers as they continue to build their season.