Panthers lose fourth-straight game against Charlotte, 80-57

By Cristhian Plasencia/Asst. Sports Director

 

The women’s basketball team (6-16) lost on the road to Charlotte 49ers, 80-57, on Sunday at the Dale F. Halton Arena.

Alexis Gordon kept the Panthers in the game with her eight points in the second quarter, as she scored a game-high 24 points. It wasn’t enough however, to level with Charlotte’s wholesome performance on the post.

“She’s a 45 percent 3-point shooter. You don’t see those every day, said Charlotte’s Head Coach Cara Consuegra. “That’s part of the reason why we went to man, so we don’t lose her.”

Charlotte (9-13) scored 48 total points in the paint, 16 interior points within the second quarter. The 49ers exploited the lanes, and their defense held FIU to two of seventeen shooting from the field in the second quarter.

Fortunately for the Panthers, the team made nine out of eleven free throws, which kept the game in reach.

Charlotte’s offense outscored FIU 24-14 in the second quarter, resulting the 49ers to lead by eight points going into the second half.

Gordon was the only FIU player with double-digit points. Behind on the stats sheet, Kiandre’a Pound grabbed seven boards and nine points. Kristian Hudson, FIU’s second scoring-leader, attempted only six shots and ended up with seven points.

On the home side, the 49ers had four players with double digits. Charlotte’s 6′ 4″ redshirt senior, Nyilah Jamison-Myers, shot an efficient 73 percent from the field. She asserted her presence with three blocks.

Guard Amaya Ransom scored 12 of her total 16 points during the third quarter. Ransom closed the third quarter with a pair of free throws, which extended Charlotte’s lead to 14 points (58-44). Point guard Laia Raventos ran the floor with her six assists, also chipped-in 10 points.

“Charlotte’s length and athleticism eventually overwhelmed us,” said FIU Head Coach Tiara Malcom.

Besides FIU’s defensive efforts in the first quarter, the 49ers backcourt players’ size was problematic for the Panther’s post players. Forwards Jamison-Myers and Dara Pearson weren’t not containable, especially after forward Shante Walker picked up two personal fouls early in the first quarter.

The visiting Panthers shot 39 percent from the field in the first quarter, but held Charlotte’s power offense to 31 percent. FIU led by two points (16-14) at the end of the first quarter.

“I thought we played well for a half,” Malcom said. “We had energy, we rebounded, we moved the ball, and we took good shots.”

FIU falls three-games under .500 in conference play, as they continue to be winless on the road.

The women’s basketball team will travel back home to host the (11-10) North Texas Mean Green at Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Thursday night at 7 p.m.