49ers open A-10 tourney play on Saturday

The Charlotte 49ers women's basketball team earned the fourth-seed in this season's Atlantic 10 Conference tournament and will open play on Saturday, facing the winner of Friday's game between No. 5 Saint Joseph's and No. 12 Fordham.

Charlotte (16-12, 9-5) is the defending tournament champion and was one of four teams to receive first round byes in the tournament, which will be played at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. It's the first time in the 28-year history of the tournament it will be played at a neutral site.

Regular-season champion Xavier is the tournament's top seed. Second-seed Dayton and No. 3 Temple join also received first-round byes. The semifinals will be played at noon and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, with both games broadcast on CBS College Sports. The championship game is 5 p.m. March 8 on ESPN2.