Amanda Dowe and the Charlotte 49ers overpowered a young TCU women’s basketball team Wednesday, coach Jeff Mittie said, which ultimately led to a Horned Frog loss, 82-68.

“We don’t have a lot of depth in the front line and you saw that tonight,” Mittie said.

Freshmen Kamy Cole and Zahna Medley led the team with 21 and 12 points, respectively and last season’s leading scorer Natalie Ventress added 10, but the team couldn’t overcome Dowe’s overall play. 

Senior Whitney Williams said she was proud of the young players, but that experienced players needed to step up. 

The Frogs’ defense stepped it up behind a flurry of hustle plays in the second half—two blocked shots from Lovings, a charge taken by Williams and a couple offensive rebounds by Lovings.

But the 49ers kept getting the offensive rebounds, which led to second-chance points. TCU was out-rebounded 44-34 in the end.

TCU isolated Ventress—its leading scorer last season—in its first three second half possessions after the 49ers matched her up with Dowe, a 6-foot-4 senior forward. 

Meanwhile Dowe, who led Charlotte in scoring and rebounding in the first half—had a double-double five minutes into the second half, with six of her 10 rebounds coming on the offensive glass. 

She added three blocks and three assists and finished the game with a team-high 21 points—joining all four of her fellow starters in double figures—and accounted for 16 rebounds, 10 of which were offensive. 

“When they needed a play, Dowe was able to make it for them,” Mittie said. 

Dowe also guarded the Horned Frog who was playing the best at any given time, Mittie said, which was Cole most of the game. Cole finished the game with 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting.

TCU brought it within one point with at 12:50 with a Cole 3-pointer, but the 49ers kept charging. 

“I liked the fact that Kamy is willing to take the big shot,” Mittie said.

Jennifer Haley, a senior power forward, played Lovings tough inside, either fronting her or playing three-quarters around her most of the game. Mittie said the lack of inside scoring gave Charlotte the advantage, especially since freshman Ashley Colbert only touched the ball once.

Lovings did her work on the defensive end, though, racking up a career-high six blocks and grabbing nine rebounds. 

As the game wound down, a Jai Forney three from the corner gave Charotte a 68-56 lead with 10:39 in the second half, which eventually sparked a run that led to a 76-62 advantage.

“Charlotte just did better in terms of experience,” Mittie said.