CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Women's Basketball team is set to host the Temple Owls on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. inside Halton Arena, marking their final home game of the season. This matchup is critically important for the 49ers, who were unable to clinch a first-round bye in the upcoming American Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament after their recent defeat at Wichita State. A victory against the Owls, combined with the need for Tulsa to beat Wichita State, is necessary for Charlotte's playoff hopes.
Charlotte's loss to the Shockers on March 1 has put added pressure on the team to perform well against Temple. The Shockers currently hold the tiebreaker over the 49ers due to their win over Rice (#8), compared to Charlotte’s best victory over Memphis (#10). The team heads back to Halton Arena knowing they have made it tougher for themselves, needing to focus on securing this win.
Temple enters the game on the heels of impressive form, having recently secured an 83-63 victory against Rice on February 28, 2025. Their leading scorer, Tiarra East, delivered a standout performance, scoring a career-high 33 points with 27 coming during the second half. With her efforts, she has been recognized as the AAC Player of the Week, single-handedly boosting Temple's status, which grants them double bye entry for the upcoming AAC tournament.
The Owls' statistics confirm their effectiveness on the court, leading the AAC with a turnover margin of +3.57, and ranking second for turnovers forced per game (19.29) and steals per game (9.7). Point guard Tristen Taylor stands out with the league's best assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.42, highlighting Temple's well-rounded skill set.
Historically, Charlotte has struggled against Temple, holding only four wins to their ten losses against the Owls. Their last clash resulted in Charlotte falling to Temple 80-62 earlier this season. Despite this disheartening record, the 49ers have fared comparatively well at home, where they stand at 4-3 against Temple and achieved victory last season with a thrilling 88-81 double overtime encounter, offering them motivation to perform well this time around.
Charlotte's recent performance, particularly against Wichita State, raised concerns about team energy and offensive execution. Coach Tomekia Reed expressed disappointment, stating, 3We did not have good energy on Saturday. Their heads were down at halftime.2 She noted the lack of offensive rhythm and expressed hope for improvement: 3Today was not team basketball. Our focus now turns to Temple and trying to end the season on a high note.2
Against Wichita State, the 49ers were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, finishing the game without hitting any three-pointers for the first time since December 21 against Davidson. Their shooting percentage plummeted to 30.9%, compounded by missing 45% of their free throws (9-20). Charlotte’s struggle on the boards also played a key role, being outrebounded 21 to 16, contributing to 10 second-chance points for the Shockers. This trend must be reversed if Charlotte hopes to emerge victorious against Temple.
Looking at the scoring contributions from Charlotte, the dynamic trio of Alexis Andrews, Keanna Rembert, and Hayleigh Breland, who combined for impressive totals against previous opponents, saw diminished returns against Wichita State, accounting for only 24 points. For Tuesday's matchup, they need to rebound to their higher scoring form to help secure the win.
Charlotte’s defense, which leads the conference and ranks 41st nationally by averaging 24 bench points per game, will also be tested. Coach Reed has been relying on contributions from her bench unit, especially Andrews, who averages nine points per game and has been consistent, scoring double figures recently. The support from the bench will be pivotal in helping Charlotte clinch their necessary victory.
With the regular season winding down, the stakes are high for Charlotte. The team has faced challenges but has the opportunity to turn the tide by defeating Temple and possibly securing their positioning for the conference tournament. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, and fans will undoubtedly be hoping to see the 49ers end their home season on a high note.