CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Previous to Wednesday night, the East Carolina women’s basketball team had not won consecutive road contests against the Charlotte 49ers. With a 72-65 victory in Halton Arena, that streak came to an end.
The Pirates (10-7, 2-3 AAC) did their level best to give it away, blowing the game open for a 14-point second-half lead only to see Charlotte (5-11, 0-5 AAC) erase it in a matter of minutes with an 11-0 run, closing what was once a 65-51 margin to 65-62 with under four minutes remaining in the game.
Tap, hold and load in a DUB 🙌🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/TyucSr6zBp
— East Carolina Women’s Basketball (@ECUWBB) January 16, 2025
Seeing a chance, though, ECU punched back. Jayla Hearp made three of the game’s next four field goals to eke out a seven-point gap with under a minute left. Hearp finished the game with 13 points and a career high eight rebounds.
The stars of the show—and they were stars, plural—for the Pirates were undoubtedly Anzhané Hutton and Devin Hagemann. The pair seemed unguardable, undeniable, simply unstoppable at times.
THIS is Pirate Defense 🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/fRUBrmLE5S
— East Carolina Women’s Basketball (@ECUWBB) January 16, 2025
Hutton went for season and game highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds while Hagemann, who has turned into a scrappy point guard, posted 16 points and a season best six assists. Hagemann, a true freshman, has scored 37 points over the last two games. Hutton’s 21 points were just one off of a career high.
Charlotte had their chances to bring home the win, leading by as many as six points in the first half. The hosts were keyed by Alexis Andrews who rained in five three pointers in the first half alone; however, the Pirates severely limited the hot-shooting guard in the second half to the tune of two points, both on free throws, and four personal fouls.
In the dictionary under ᴛᴇɴᴀᴄɪᴛʏ is this clip: pic.twitter.com/RLU905XLtF
— East Carolina Women’s Basketball (@ECUWBB) January 16, 2025
As has become customary of late, the Pirates controlled the game on the glass with a 31-20 margin, despite being held their season average on the offensive glass with only—only 10 offensive rebounds. The team did cash those in for 15 second chance points.
And, despite turning the ball over 24 times in the game, resulting in 25 points off of turnovers for the 49ers, ECU did well to limit the damage, forcing 16 turnovers themselves for 21 points off. Khia Miller led the team with four steals in 26 minutes played.
.@JourneeMac to @DevinHagemann on the break to extend it to 10! pic.twitter.com/jzmn1sjYAq
— East Carolina Women’s Basketball (@ECUWBB) January 16, 2025
Having won in Halton Arena last March, the Pirates have now won two-straight road games against Charlotte. Prior to this run, the program had only won twice in Charlotte in 16 attempts.
Up Next
The Pirates remain on the road as they travel to Houston, Texas for a date with the Rice Owls on Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET tip on ESPN+.
Shooter had the wrong address; returned to sender 🙅♀️@_yogirltaty with the rejection pic.twitter.com/lWVIat3yPV
— East Carolina Women’s Basketball (@ECUWBB) January 16, 2025
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