University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Charlotte
Lady Eagle Basketball Falls to Charlotte 80-59
1/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Southern Miss women's basketball team fell to Charlotte on Thursday in Conference USA action, 80-59.
Southern Miss was limited to just six points in the second quarter on 15.8 percent shooting from the field while Charlotte took control using an 18-0 run as the Lady Eagles dropped to 8-5 overall and 1-1 in league play. Charlotte improved to 8-5 and 1-1.
"We got off to a solid start and when they started rolling we tucked out tails," Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "We didn't come out and fight back at all and that's probably the most disappointing thing. I believe that's the first time we've done that all year. Our effort and intensity was not very good. No one has shot the ball like Charlotte shot the ball against us.
"It was the best defensive team against the best offensive team in the league," McNelis said. "Myself, I would take the best defensive team anytime, any day. Obviously we weren't that today. Charlotte shot the cover off of it. You've got to pat them on the back because they did a great job. Our poor defensive effected our offense. All year we long, our defense generates our offense.
"We had a few bright spots," said McNelis. "Brittny Norris late in the game gave us some offense. How many point-blank range shots did we miss today? I believe the lid was on it. I don't think all of our shots we took were bad shots, they just didn't go in and that frustrated us. Their guards can really shoot the ball and you have to say hats off to them. We have to regroup and get ready for Old Dominion."
Caitlin Jenkins was the only Lady Eagle to score in double figures with 22 points to go with 10 rebounds. Brittanny Dinkins and Norris each had eight points.
The Lady Eagles started the game with a strong performance, taking a seven-point lead within the first four minutes into the game. Jenkins scored 10 of her 22 points during that period. The 49ers used an 11-0 run in taking a 15-11 lead. Southern Miss fought back to tie the game at 17-17, but Lefty Webster was able to get off a buzzer-beater to give the 49ers a 19-17 lead.
Southern Miss was limited to just six points in the second quarter on 15.8 percent shooting from the field while Charlotte took control using an 18-0 run. Lashyra Cotton provided all the points for the Lady Eagles in the quarter as Charlotte led 46-23 at the half.
Southern Miss was able to match Charlotte basket-for-basket in the throughout the third and fourth quarters, but the second quarter outburst was too much to overcome by the Lady Eagles.
Webster led Charlotte with 22 points while Kira Gordon had 18 and Grace Hunter chipped in 10 points. Gordon and Hunter each pulled down 10 rebounds apiece as Charlotte outrebound Southern Miss 46-36.
Southern Miss travels to Old Dominion for a Saturday game with the tip-off time set for 3 p.m. central time.
