Wildcats Fall in High-Scoring Cross-County Affair, 99-88

Sunday, December 20

Davidson, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

6-6

Charlotte (MI-Connection)

7-3

Charlotte

Davidson

Photo by: Sam Roberts

Wildcats Fall in High-Scoring Cross-County Affair, 99-88

12/20/2015 5:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

Box Score (pdf)
Game Highlights
DavidsonPhotos.com

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Davidson put five players in double figures in points for the first time this year, but its cross-county rival Charlotte countered with six of its own and held off the Wildcats in a high-scoring game, 99-88, Sunday afternoon in John M. Belk Arena.

The 49ers (7-3) had three players reach the 20-point mark led by Ciara Gregory's 23 and shot 60.9 percent from the floor, including 10-for-16 from behind the arc. Alexis Alexander and Lefty Webster each scored 20, combining to shoot 17-for-25 from the floor.

Davidson, which fell to 6-6 on the season, had two of its own 20-point scorers. Mackenzie Latt dropped in game and career-high 25 points on a career-best 10-of-12 shooting with a three-pointer and four free throws in 37 minutes.

Senior Hannah Early added a season-high 23 points, getting 15 of them from three-land on 5-of-10 shooting, while pulling in seven rebounds and dishing out four assists.

Dakota Dukes had a solid game, hitting 8-of-16 field goals and a pair of free throws for 18 points. Justine Lyon chipped in 11 points and had eight rebounds, while Diona Johnson came off the bench for a career-high tying 11 points.

After Charlotte doubled up the 'Cats at the end of the first quarter, 28-14, Davidson tried to keep pace with the hot-shooting 49ers. It won the second quarter, 21-20, but trailed 48-35 heading into the break.

Davidson caught fire to start the third, hitting seven of its first nine shots and used a 14-3 run to close to within five, 56-51, and 5:53 on the clock. Charlotte quickly answered with a 12-4 run, pushing its lead back out to double digits and finished the quarter up 75-60.

Again, Davidson had a great start to the next quarter, pulling within eight at 75-67 on a Latt jumper, but it saw the 49ers answer by scoring 11 of the next 18 points for an 86-72 lead with 4:57 remaining.

The Wildcats, who scored a season-high 28 points in the four quarter, would cut the deficit to nine one last time on another Latt jumper to make in 90-81 with 2:17 left. Charlotte sealed the win by going 8-for-9 at the charity stripe in the final two minutes.

Also reaching double figures for the 49ers was Laia Raventos (14), Kira Gordon (12) and Grace Hunter (10).

Both teams combined for 86 points in the paint, as Charlotte scored 46 of them, while Davidson had a 24-20 edge on points off turnovers. Davidson also dished out a season-high 19 assists.

The Wildcats will take a 10-day Christmas break before heading to James Madison, Dec. 30, for its final non-conference game.

GAME NOTES: This was the 16th meeting between the cross-county schools … Davidson has dropped the last seven games now and trail 16-10 in the series … the 187 combined points was the most in the series … it was the most in a combined game for the Wildcats overall since a 103-88 win vs. ETSU, Jan. 22, 2002 … Davidson shot a blistering 63.6 percent in the third and fourth quarters combined … Latt had her second 20-point outing in a row … it was the second game in a row the Wildcats had two players score at least 20 points … Early registered her second 20-point outing of the season and the 15th of her career.