Kira Gordon and Alexis Alexander joined by Cara Consuegra on Senior Night. Photo by Benjamin Robson

The vibrant overhead lights inside Halton Arena shine down on Alexis Alexander and Kira Gordon.

An adventure that began 1,212 days ago is rapidly nearing its end. Under seven iconic program banners, the senior duo peacefully stands outside the southeast tunnel. 1,143 thankful fans rise from their dark green folding seats in celebration. Alexander and Gordon share the moment with their families as they cling to their beloved ones’ sides. The pair gazes upward at the jumbotron. Through highlights, their careers flash before their eyes.

Head coach Cara Consuegra stands on the 49ers logo, painted at center court. A broad smile illustrates her emotions toward her first recruits. The duo’s personal montages cease as the audiences’ roars refill the on-campus arena with elation.

One-by-one, Alexander and Gordon emerge from the corner to begin their sentimental journey towards mid-court to greet their one and only collegiate head coach. As they step closer, both Consuegra and her seniors’ smiles grow larger and the emotions roll down their cheeks.

They greet each other in a strong, welcoming, heartfelt hug.

Cara Consuegra embraces her first recruit, Kira Gordon on Senior Night. Photo by Benjamin Robson

“I love her to death,” Gordon said describing her feelings toward Consuegra. “She’s my family and that’s why I love Charlotte so much. They took me in during times in my life when I felt like I had no one.”

Charlotte served as a first for both parties. Not only was it Consuegra’s first collegiate head coaching gig but Charlotte was also Gordon’s first official visit. Usually only fairy tales include the “love at first sight” trope but in Gordon’s situation, that’s exactly what it was.

“This was my first visit. I loved Cara,” Gordon said. “I had five visits set up and I committed without attending my others. Cara just came here and she recruited me for only a month or so. I talked to her on the phone and when I came here, it was something about her.”

Once the senior from Kennesaw, Ga. committed, she turned recruiter and began to persuade fellow Georgia native Alexander to join her in the Queen City. At the time, little did Gordon know she’d help recruit her soon-to-be best friend.

“We both played in Atlanta but we never played each other,” Gordon said. “When we came on our visit together, it was just her and I so we connected and once we left, we continued to text and finally Lexi committed. She was outgoing, the complete opposite of me. I committed and begged Lexi to come to Charlotte.”

It was only a matter of time before Alexander bought in and joined her fellow Georgian in the big city to the northeast.

Kira Gordon stares down Old Dominion. Photo by Benjamin Robson

A lot occurred since their commitment to Charlotte but flash forward to now, four storied years are behind the senior duo as well Consuegra. While Gordon and Alexander both expressed their gratitude and thankfulness in their decision to join Charlotte and for their first collegiate head coach, they weren’t alone.

“I’m so thankful for those two,” Consuegra said. “I’ll say this 100 times, those two kids bought into me before anyone else did. I had proven nothing as a head coach but they chose to come play for me and that mean’s so much and I’ll never forget that.”

Looking back, the front court pair accomplished and collected countless feats and memories over the course of their careers. From Alexander’s first time stepping on the floor to the numerous hours in the gym perfecting her iconic face-up jumper to Gordon’s 1,000th career point, the senior pair won’t ever experience a lack of nostalgia. But it’s not the memories that they’ll cherish the most.

“I‘m not going to remember the games we won or the plays we made, I’m just going to remember these people,” Gordon said. “They’re my family.”

In their time together, the trio experienced unmatched heights on the court that’ll hang from Halton Arena’s rafters for an eternity. In 2013, Alexander and Gordon helped push the 49ers to a 26-win season encompassing a trip to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Sweet 16.

For Alexander and Gordon, their freshman campaigns ended on a three-foot jumper with two seconds remaining. For the seniors then, their collegiate careers and the historic postseason run finished in heartbreak. However, the freshman that played a role, Alexander and Gordon, have always aspired to reclaim the triumph that slipped through their team’s fingertips in late March, three years ago.

Fortunately for the senior duo, the WNIT selection committee announced Monday night that Charlotte will participate in their 13th postseason appearance in the last 14 years. Ultimately, the decision grants Alexander, Gordon and the 49ers another shot at program immortality.

The 49ers unite pregame. Photo by Chris Crews

On Thursday, March 17, Alexander and Gordon will lead their team through the double doors adjacent to the 49ers bench once more. They’ll step out onto the hardwood donning their iconic, white Charlotte jersey while the spotlight shines down. However, this time the duo will tip-off their final WNIT as marquee influences on the court. The seniors are hungry for supremacy but a victory over Wake Forest in the first round wouldn’t fulfill their aspirations, it’d simply be a stepping stone to something greater.

“I want to go out with a bang,” Alexander said. “I want to do something really special.”