Charlotte 84, Appalachian State 58

CHARLOTTE, NC ? Appalachian State University women’s basketball led for much of the first half of Saturday’s season opener before Charlotte went on a tear through the second half to put the game out of reach as ASU fell, 84-58, in front of 2,015 fans at Charlotte’s Halton Arena.

Appalachian was led by two double-digit scorers in Eboni Kirby and Jaime Bennett with 14 and 12 points, respectively. The 49ers had five players hit double figures with Pam Brown’s 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting leading the way.

ASU appeared to have Charlotte figured out, holding them to 36 percent shooting while converting at a 54 percent clip on the other end of the floor. However, the 49ers turned the tables in the second stanza, shooting 60 percent while holding Appalachian under 40 percent. Appalachian’s 33 turnovers and fouls didn’t help the cause as ASU committed 33 miscues and sent Charlotte to the free-throw line 28 times aiding Charlotte in its 47-26 second-half performance.

The two teams played an extremely even first 15 minutes with seven ties during that period. A Bennett jumper with 5:21 left in the half gave ASU a five-point, 29-24, lead and it looked like the door was open for ASU to build a comfortable lead. However, ASU would turn the ball over four times in the next five minutes to allow Charlotte to go on a 13-3 run to end the half and take a five-point lead of its own into the lockerroom.

The 49ers kept the momentum in the second half, extending their lead to 11, 52-41, in the first six minutes of the second stanza. ASU couldn’t find an answer for the physical play of Brown in the paint or Charlotte’s ability to break the press and convert on the fast break.

Freshman Greteya Kelley had an impressive debut in the black and gold, scoring eight points with two assists and two steals in 31 minutes of action.