CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte 49ers used a big second half to pull away from the Presbyterian College women's basketball team in a Thursday afternoon matchup at Charlotte's Halton Arena, 66-50.
PC moves to 5-5 on the year and will stay on the road to play at NC Central on Saturday at 2 p.m. Charlotte improves to 3-7.
Freshman guard Cortney Storey (Fayetteville, Tenn.) led PC with 15 points and four assists, both career-highs. Aianna Kelly (Virginia Beach, Va.) paced PC in rebounds, with eight, and grabbed three steals.
The Blue Hose trailed by only four points at the half before the 49ers outscored the visitors 42-30 in the second half en route to the win. Charlotte's 51.1 percent (24-for-47) shooting percentage and 66 points both mark season-highs for a PC opponent. Kira Gordon led Charlotte with 19 points and nine boards.
The two sides battled closely for much of the opening period. Janie Miles (Clemson, S.C.) hit two free throws to make it a 6-6 game four and a half minutes in and a Storey three-pointer brought PC back within one shortly after.
Charlotte bumped its lead to five midway through the period, but a Kaycie Reffner (Altoona, Pa.) jumper and a Miles trey brought the game even with 7:28 left before halftime, 16-16. The 49ers broke an 18-18 tie with six straight points until Keyonna Allen (Forest Park, Ga.) knocked down a pair of free throws for a 24-20 halftime score.
The 49ers took control in the second half. PC cut its deficit to three in the half's first minute, but Charlotte answered with 11 straight points as part of a larger 21-2 run. Storey and Allie Wagner (Easley, S.C.) chipped away at Charlotte's lead and Elizabeth Landers (Greenville, S.C.) drained her first career three-pointer to pull within 14 with 8:13 left.
Unfortunately for the Blue Hose, however, Charlotte's lead proved enough for the home side to survive as the 49ers held on against the young team. Wagner scored eight second-half points behind Storey's 10. PC only turned the ball over 11 times on the afternoon and went 77.8 percent (7-for-9) from the foul line.
