Charlotte women’s basketball fall to Auburn in opener

CHARLOTTE ATHLETICS

Karen Nimo paced the Charlotte 49ers with 17 points in her debut, which ended with a 71-58 overtime loss to Auburn.

The Charlotte women’s basketball team forced overtime but couldn’t get over the hump against Auburn.

The 49ers fell 71-58 after scoring just three points in overtime, but coach Tomekia Reed felt more confident in her team after falling behind 9-0 early.

“I am happy we fought back into the game,” Reed said. “We were down and … we have to be very strategic with using timeouts and things like that. I couldn’t take too many and so I was happy to see the players pull themselves out of those valleys that they found themselves in. This is a new team, trying to figure it out, gelling and working together and still learning the system. I like what I see. I have some fighters.”

The 49ers had 25 turnovers, which led to 22 fast break points for the Tigers. It’s a point of emphasis for Reed, who wants Charlotte to take better care of the ball. 

“I think we just have to handle the ball,” she said. “I think we have to handle aggression, and I challenged the team. Push each other harder in practice, make it tough for each other to get a basket, so when we get to the games, we know how to handle the pressure, and so it's just playing with confidence and being confident with the ball.”

One bright spot for the 49ers was transfer guard Karen Nimo, who finished with 17 points and two rebounds in 23 minutes. Reed praised how Nimo, a Butler High alumna, handled her debut. 

“She's one of those players that when she knows she's needed and she knows people are counting on her, she comes in to get it done,” Reed said. Because she started playing basketball late, she told me in the recruiting process when she committed, ‘Coach, have grace with me.’ ‘Coach, be patient.’ And every time I want to really get on her, I remember that because she's got it, we just have to coast her into it. I’m extremely proud of her.”

Nimo said she felt the energy coming into the first game. While it was exciting to get out and play, she is focused on being more consistent and making sure the team gets better.

“I did feel like we all came with a lot of energy behind us,” Nimo said. We just have to be more consistent, and if we keep that consistency going, we can be a very successful team. So, even though the game didn't turn out what we wanted it to, I feel like we're just going to build in this moment and going into our next [game].”

Reed is no stranger to scheduling tough non-conference opponents given the teams she faced in the NCAA tournament in her time at Jackson State. This time with a completely new team, she was admittedly nervous.

“I didn't know what to expect, either way from Auburn or from us,” Reed said, “because it'’ just all so new. But, seeing them really get out of this floor and have the confidence that they had, and shoot around today, we were perfect. I mean, we didn't make any mistakes. They were so hungry. And I was like, ‘OK, this is gonna be good.’” 

Comments