Miami, Fla. - Despite 26 points by Ebone Henry and 41.7-percent (25-60) shooting by the Great Danes, UAlbany could not overcome a late deficit, falling to Charlotte, 61-59, in the consolation game of the Sun & Fun Classic, hosted by FIU at the US Century Bank Arena on Friday afternoon.

            The two teams battled to start the game, with Charlotte scoring the first four points before UAlbany came back to take a 5-4 lead on a jumper by Cassandra Callaway followed by a 3-pointer by Lindsey Lowrie. Despite a second jumper by Callaway, back-to-back baskets by Charlotte's Jennifer Hailey put the 49ers back on top, 8-7, with 15 minutes on the clock. UAlbany took its second lead of the game on an offensive rebound and put back by Megan Craig, putting the Great Danes on top, 13-11, with 9:34 left to play.

The teams continued to exchange baskets and the lead, with neither team able to build a significant advantage. After UAlbany took a 21-16 lead on a lay up by Keyana Williams, Hillary Sigmon tied the game at 21-21 on consecutive baskets, including her second trey of the game, with 2:34 on the clock. The Great Danes continued to battle, and regained their advantage on a Julie Forster bucket, but the 49ers tied the game for the 4th time on Jai Forney's third basket of the game. Forney then nailed a long-range shot from the far side of the arc to send the teams to the locker room with Charlotte on top by one, 26-25.

The teams continued to battle in the second, exchanging baskets and free throws before a 3-pointer by Epiphany Woodson put Charlotte on top, 35-33, with just under 16 minutes on the clock. Woodson gave the 49ers their largest lead of the game, 38-34, with her second trey of the game, but Forster recorded a steal on Charlotte's next possession and passed the ball underneath the hoop to Henry, who pulled the Great Danes back to within two. UAlbany attempted to press, getting a steal and basket from Henry, but the 49ers recorded consecutive steals of their own to pull ahead, 44-38. Baskets from Forney and Woodson extended Charlotte's advantage, as the 49ers built up a 10-point lead with just over nine minutes in regulation.

UAlbany used a spark from Henry to battle back into the game. After a basket by Lowrie with just over eight minutes to play, Henry scored the Great Danes' next seven points, pulling UAlbany within five, 52-47. Callaway's first basket of the second half at 4:32 cut the 49ers' lead to three, but Sigmon drained two free throws to allow Charlotte to hold onto a five-point advantage. Despite a high-speed UAlbany offense, Charlotte stayed ahead by five by exchanging baskets with the Great Danes, until Sigmond's third 3-pointer of the game put the 49ers on top, 59-53, with just over a minute left to play.

UAlbany was not going to go down without a fight. After Ny Hammonds hit the first of two pairs of free throws, the Great Danes responded to drain back-to-back 3-pointers with seconds on the clock. Henry hit a long-range shot from the left side of the arc with 45.3 seconds remaining before Lowrie sunk a trey with 6.9 ticks left, pulling UAlbany back within two, 61-59. Forney missed two free throws at the other end of the court, and Forster pulled down the rebound to give the Great Danes the last shot of the game. Callaway's jumper from the top of the key bounced off the rim at the buzzer to seal the win for Charlotte.

Hailey recorded a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds for Charlotte (7-6), while Sigmon led the 49ers with 15 points. Woodson added an additional 12 points, while Forney went 5-of-9 from the floor to chip in with 11 points. The 49ers shot 40.7-percent (22-54) from the floor, including 46.2-percent (6-13) from beyond the 3-point arc.

Lowrie also scored in double figures for the Great Danes, dropping in 12 points, while Forster led all players with 12 rebounds and coming up just short of a double-double with nine points. Forster also led all players with five steals, as UAlbany totaled 13 thefts as a team.

UAlbany (7-6) will return to action on Monday, Jan. 2, kicking off America East Conference play at Hartford at 7 p.m.