Traci Ray scored a career-high 23 points against Rhode Island. |
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Ray Scores Career-High 21 As 49ers Lose To Rhode Island
Feb. 24, 2008
Charlotte, NC - Junior guard Traci Ray scored a career-high 23 points but it was not enough as the Charlotte 49ers (16-12, A-10: 7-5) fall to the Rhode Island Rams (12-15, A-10: 5-7), 65-63, in Halton Arena, Sunday afternoon.
"You have to give Rhode Island credit they never gave up," Charlotte coach Karen Aston said. "However, we have repeatedly not shown a killer instinct in games this season and allowed teams to get back into the game. We started the game off well but we did not finish the first half very well. I am pleased with the play of our guards they kept us in the game."
Ray scored her career-high 23 points on five three-point field goals. Sabrina Gregory rounded out the 49ers double-figure scorers with 11 points.
The 49ers started the game on fire by scoring the game's first nine points behind baskets from Ray, Gregory, Erin Floyd and Danielle Burgin.
Ray connected on her second three-point field goal of the game pushing Charlotte's lead to 14-3 at the 17:02 mark.
Charlotte maintained their lead of 7-9 points for the next 11 minutes. Then, Gregory knocked down a jump shot pushing Charlotte's lead to a game-high 12 points, 27-15, with 6:09 left in the first half.
Rhode Island would close out the first half with a 15-2 run taking a 30-29 halftime lead when Amanda McGrew knocked down a three-point basket at the first half buzzer.
Rhode Island maintained their lead for the first three and half minutes of the second half. Then, Ray knocked down another three-point field goal giving the 49ers their first lead of the second half, 36-35 at the 16:36 mark.
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Rhode Island quickly regained the lead on a Tanja Lucina basket. Then, Charlotte scored eight straight points taking a 44-37 lead at the 11:36 mark. Gregory scored five points and Wendy Stywalt scored three points during the run.
Charlotte maintained a lead of 5-8 points for the next five and half minutes until Tyhiesha Smith scored on a layup which gave the 49ers their largest lead of the second half, 54-45, at the 5:26 mark.
Rhode Island would go on a 12-2 run over the next four minutes taking the lead for good, 57-56, when Licina connected on a jump shot at the 1:35 mark.
Rhode Island pushed their lead to five points with 42 seconds left. However, the 49ers did not give up as a basket from Floyd and two free throws from Ray cut Rhode Island's lead to one point, 61-60, with 22 seconds left on the clock.
Rhode Island's Sofi Mojidi knocked down two three point field goals pushing their lead to three points. Then, Ray missed a game-tying three-point field goal with nine seconds left. Rhode Island's Mojidi would then hit two free throws closing out the Rams scoring.
Ray made the final score, 65-63, with a three-point field goal from the baseline at the buzzer.
The 49ers travel to Atlantic 10 foe Fordham for their final regular season road game, Wednesday, February 27 at 6 pm.
