CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — The Charlotte 49ers used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from the Wofford Terriers and secure a 73-59 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Halton Arena.

In a contest defined by runs and defensive pressure, Charlotte improved its season record to 4-3, while Wofford dropped to 1-4.

The game was a tight affair through the first half. Charlotte established an early lead, ending the first quarter up 15-10. Wofford responded with its best period of the game in the second, outscoring the 49ers 18-14 to narrow the halftime deficit to a single point at 29-28. The Terriers’ offense flowed through Gabby Mundy and Toni Warren, who combined for much of their team’s first-half production.

Any momentum Wofford carried into the break was swiftly extinguished in the third quarter. Charlotte came out of the locker room with intensified defensive energy, forcing a series of Wofford turnovers and capitalizing on the other end. The 49ers erupted for a 24-point quarter, holding the Terriers to a mere five points. This 24-5 third-quarter blitz turned the one-point game into a 20-point Charlotte lead and effectively decided the outcome.

Tanajah Hayes was the catalyst for Charlotte, orchestrating the offense with a team-high 16 points and seven assists. Her backcourt mate, Princess Anderson, provided a significant scoring punch off the bench, also netting 16 points and contributing to Charlotte’s disruptive defense with multiple steals. Zoe Best rounded out the double-figure scorers for the 49ers with 13 points.

Wofford mounted a spirited but ultimately futile comeback attempt in the final frame, outscoring Charlotte 26-20 in the fourth quarter. The Terriers’ late push was led by Toni Warren, who finished with a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds. Gabby Mundy added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Queen Ikhiuwu just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Despite the late scoring burst, the damage from the third quarter was too great to overcome. Charlotte’s advantages in key statistical areas proved decisive. The 49ers forced 14 Wofford turnovers, converting them into 20 points, while Wofford managed only 10 points off nine Charlotte turnovers. Charlotte also shot an efficient 14 for 16 from the free-throw line, compared to Wofford’s 4-for-7 performance.

Both teams struggled from the field, with Charlotte shooting 25 of 68 and Wofford making 24 of 61 attempts. The 49ers held a slight edge from beyond the arc, making nine three-pointers to Wofford’s seven.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 631 at Halton Arena. Wofford will look to rebound on the road Tuesday at UNC Asheville. Charlotte’s next contest is Friday against Oklahoma State in Parry Sound, Ontario.