Tanajah Hayes hits late three as Charlotte women edge Florida Atlantic amid AAC seeding race

A last-possession swing in Boca Raton

Charlotte’s women’s basketball team secured a one-point road win on Feb. 24, 2026, when guard Tanajah Hayes knocked down a three-pointer in the closing seconds to lift the 49ers past Florida Atlantic, 57-56, at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton, Florida. The shot, which went in with 2.5 seconds remaining, capped a game that repeatedly turned on single possessions and late defensive stops.

The result moved Charlotte to 13-15 overall and 7-8 in American Athletic Conference play, tightening the middle of the league table with the conference tournament approaching. Florida Atlantic fell to 12-15 overall and 6-9 in AAC games.

How the final sequence unfolded

Charlotte entered the final 30 seconds trailing by two. Florida Atlantic took a 56-54 lead with 22 seconds left on a layup from Jess Moors, setting up Charlotte’s last possession. Charlotte used timeouts to organize the closing play, and Hayes’ eventual game-winner came after she inbounded the ball, immediately received the return pass, and fired from beyond the arc.

Florida Atlantic had one last look at the buzzer, but Grace Carstensen’s attempt did not fall, allowing Charlotte to escape with the win.

Fourth-quarter scoring concentrated in two players

Charlotte’s late offense ran primarily through Hayes and Princess Anderson. Together, they accounted for all of the 49ers’ fourth-quarter points. Hayes scored five of her nine points in the final period, while Anderson delivered the most sustained production across the game, finishing with 20 points to lead all scorers.

• Princess Anderson: 20 points
• Caitlin Staley: 10 points
• Tanajah Hayes: 9 points (including the game-winning three)
• Ja’Navia Gage: 9 points and 8 rebounds

Defense and turnovers shaped the margins

While Florida Atlantic shot a higher percentage from the field, Charlotte created extra chances by forcing turnovers and turning them into takeaways. The 49ers recorded 12 steals as a team; Hayes, Anderson, and Zoe Best each had three. Florida Atlantic committed 17 turnovers, compared with 12 for Charlotte. Those possession gains helped offset Charlotte’s lower shooting efficiency and contributed to keeping the game within one possession down the stretch.

Charlotte’s closing possessions combined set plays out of timeouts with a quick-return action that freed Hayes behind the three-point line.

Context within the season series and what’s next

The Feb. 24 result completed a season sweep for Charlotte over Florida Atlantic in conference play. Earlier in the series, Charlotte won 77-56 at home on Jan. 20, 2026.

Charlotte’s schedule continues with another AAC road test at East Carolina on Feb. 28, 2026, as the 49ers pursue positioning in the conference tournament bracket.