BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Florida Atlantic edged Charlotte 74-70 in overtime Tuesday in an American Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament game at Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The Owls led by 14 at halftime but needed a late rally to force overtime after the 49ers’ dominant second half. Princess Anderson scored a game-high 35 points for Charlotte. Madi Gewirtz led Florida Atlantic with 16 points. Florida Atlantic improved to 14-17. Charlotte finished its season at 14-18.

CHARLOTTE, 49ers TO FACE FLORIDA ATLANTIC IN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The Charlotte women’s basketball team will look to build on its overtime momentum when it opens the American Athletic Conference Championship against Florida Atlantic on Tuesday. The 11th-seeded 49ers (14-17) and 14th-seeded Owls (13-17) will meet in a first-round game at Legacy Arena. The winner advances to face sixth-seeded East Carolina on Wednesday. Charlotte arrives having snapped a three-game skid with a 69-66 overtime win at UAB on Saturday. Caitlin Staley posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in that victory, while Tanajah Hayes dished eight assists and Princess Anderson scored a team-high 21 points. Staley, a key reserve, has been impactful in limited minutes. She scored 10 points in just nine minutes in the teams’ most recent meeting — a 57-56 Charlotte road win on Feb. 24. Florida Atlantic seeks to rebound from an 84-56 loss at Temple on Saturday. Guard Destyne Jackson led the Owls with 11 points in that defeat. Jackson has been a consistent contributor, including a 16-point performance in a win over Tulsa on Feb. 14. The season series is split, with each team winning on the other’s home floor. Charlotte routed FAU 77-56 on Jan. 20 in North Carolina before the Owls nearly returned the favor last month, falling by a single point. Both teams have struggled for consistency, with neither stringing together more than two consecutive wins in conference play. The matchup features two of the league’s lower-scoring offenses, setting the stage for a defensive battle. The 49ers will rely on their balance, with four players averaging between 8 and 12 points per game in conference action. The Owls will need Jackson and backcourt mate Jess Moors to generate offense against a Charlotte defense that allows just 62.8 points per game. Tuesday’s winner will keep its season alive, while the loser will see its 2025-26 campaign come to a close. Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. EDT.