CHARLOTTE (6-2, 0-0 Atlantic 10) at NORTH CAROLINA A&T (5-3, 1-0 MEAC)
Date: December 18, 2012
Time: 6 p.m.
Facility: Corbett Sports Center
Series: Charlotte leads, 18-3
Live Webstream: www.ncataggies.com; TEN WEB TV; Walter Johnson (play-by-play), Terry Cooper (analyst).

PROBABLE STARTERS:
G Jessica Lyons (5-3 So., 3.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.0 apg); G Amber Calvin (5-8 R-Jr., 12.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg); F Tracy King (5-10 Jr., 6.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.3 spg); F Tiffanie Adair (5-11 Jr., 4.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg); C Nikia Gorham (6-2 Sr., 5.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg)

CHIT CHAT:  The Aggies return home to Corbett Sports Center for a pair of games this week, after defeating the defending Big South Champion Liberty on the road, Saturday. A&T will be looking to match its season-long winning streak of three games with a victory over Charlotte, Tuesday.  The Aggies are also looking to build off their last performance in which they held the Flames to a season-low shooting percentage, and had four Aggies score in double digits.  The Aggies are holding opponents to just 35.8 percent shooting for the season. In the Aggies' last meeting with the 49ers (Dec.  21, 2011), they lost 87-63 in Charlotte.  The Aggies had four players score in double-figures led by JaQuayla Berry's 16.   The 49ers shot 55 percent against the Aggies, and Amanda Dowe and Jennifer Hailey each had double-doubles. This will mark the fifth straight season the two in-state rivals have faced one another.

From the coach:  
"I expect a really good team.  Charlotte, obviously an A-10 conference team, I think they've got a lot of athletes.  We've got to figure out how to combat that, and we will."
North Carolina A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson on the 49ers 

It's A "Lock": Redshirt junior Amber Calvin has been getting off to strong starts this season. She scored 20 first half points on 8-for-10 shooting from the floor in the team's victory at Siena on Nov. 20.  She scored 17 first half points on 5-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc in Saturday's victory at Liberty.  At Lynchburg on Saturday, she hit four consecutive 3-pointers in the last four minutes of the first half to help give A&T a 10-point advantage at the break.  Calvin, who was named to the Preseason All-MEAC second team, is shooting .545 from 3-point range and leads the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game. She is third in the nation and leads the conference in 3-point shooting.    

The Opponent:  Charlotte returns all five starters from last year's team that finished 16-14 overall and 8-6 in the Atlantic 10 conference.  Charlotte was picked to finish third in the conference this season, and senior Jennifer Hailey was named preseason first-team All-Atlantic 10 and preseason All-Defensive team.  Hailey is averaging 14.9 points and 12.1 rebounds this season. The 49ers out-rebound their opponents by nearly 12 per game and outscore their foes by almost 10 per contest.

Potential Gameday Star power: North Carolina A&T: Senior center Nikia Gorham played well against Liberty's impressive frontline. Gorham scored 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting. She will need another strong performance against tremendously talented front court Charlotte possesses. Charlotte: The 49ers have two players averaging a double-double this season. Jennifer Hailey is the 49ers All-Atlantic 10 standout, but Amanda Dowe may also prove to be a problem. Dowe is averaging 12.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.  

The Magic Number For A&T: 0: That's how many home games the Aggies have lost this season. They have won by an average of 20.7 points at home this season. They're hoping being at home will give them an edge against a tough Charlotte opponent.