Freshman Shannon McCallum led the 49ers with 18 points. |
|
|
49ers Season Ends With A Loss To VCU In The WNIT
March 22, 2008
Charlotte, NC - The Charlotte 49ers (18-14) had three players score in double-figures led by freshman Shannon McCallum's 18 points but it was not enough as the 49ers saw their season end with an 80-67 loss to the VCU Rams in the first round of the WNIT in Halton Arena, Saturday. The 49ers season was capped off by their school-record sixth straight postseason tournament appearance.
"Our players never quit today," Charlotte coach Karen Aston said. "You have to give VCU credit they are a very good basketball team. We had chance to get back into the game late in the second half but we just could not stop them from scoring on a couple of crucial possessions. I can't fault our loss today on the team's effort. We played hard but it just was not our day."
McCallum led the 49ers in scoring for the fifth time this season with her 18 points with 13 of those points coming in the second half. Junior Danielle Burgin added 15 points and a team game-high seven rebounds. Sophomore Erin Floyd rounded out the 49ers double-figure scorers with 12 points. Senior Sabrina Gregory scored six points and recorded six assists and three steals in her final collegiate game.
Behind the scoring of Burgin and Floyd, the 49ers finished the game with a 44-22 advantage on points in the paint. The 49ers bench behind McCallum's 18 points outscored VCU's bench, 30-7.
The 49ers jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind the scoring of Burgin and Floyd. VCU answered with seven straight points taking a 7-6 lead at the 15:53 mark.
|
|
 |
Baskets from Floyd and Burgin helped the 49ers regain the lead, 10-7, at the 14:51 mark but that would be the last time Charlotte led in the game. VCU would go on a 17-5 run over the next six minutes taking a 24-15 lead at the 8:59 mark.
VCU would maintain a lead of 5-9 points for the next four minutes until VCU's Krystal Vaughn connected on a jump shot which pushed the Rams to a double-figure lead, 36-25, at the 4:00 minute mark. VCU's La'Tavia Rorie connected on a layup with 49 seconds left in the first half which gave them a 42-27 halftime lead.
VCU pushed their lead to a game-high 22 points, 58-36, at the 12:42 mark when LaKea Jones completed a three-point play.
However with VCU leading, 60-40, at the 9:53 mark, the 49ers would go on a 12-2 run over the next three minutes cutting VCU's lead to 62-52 at the 6:49 mark. Gregory scored four points, while McCallum and Burgin added three points apiece during the 49ers run. Charlotte had a chance to cut VCU's lead to single-digits but Gregory missed a free throw which would have competed a three-point play at the 6:49 mark.
The two teams exchanged baskets over the next minute as McCallum connected on a jump shot cutting VCU's lead back to ten points, 64-54, at the 6:12 mark. But that would be as close as the 49ers would get the remainder of the game as the Rams went on a 7-2 run pushing their lead to 15 points, 71-56, with 4:50 left on the clock.
For the fourth straight season, the 49ers won at least 18 games to go along with their school-record sixth straight postseason tournament appearances.
