Box Score
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Seniors Lindsey Kentner (Wapakoneta, Ohio/Wapakoneta) and Tiana Beatty (Charleston, W.Va./Capital) each scored a game-high 17 points to lead the University of Charleston women’s basketball team past Atlantic Regional power California (Pa.) 68-63, Thursday evening.
The Golden Eagles (7-4) jumped all over the visiting Vulcans (5-3) just after the opening tip to run away to a 21-10 lead just six minutes into play. California (Pa.) showed they were still a foe to be recognized as they leaned on star-senior Kayla Smith during a 16-0 run to not just cut the deficit, but take a five point advantage (21-26) with 7:50 remaining in the opening half. Smith ended the night with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
A Kate Seebohm jumper with 4:44 on the clock handed the visitors their largest lead of the night at 35-26 as a shocked UC offense looked for answers to missed layups and mid-court turnovers. Charleston regrouped after a quick timeout from head coach Sherry Winn to reclaim their confidence as five Golden Eagles would score over the final three minutes of the half to knot the game at 37-37 going into break.
The teams battled through the first 10 minutes of play in the second half as Cal. saw its final lead of the evening at the 11:44 mark at 45-44. Tarenna Dixon (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) used a quick move inside to put Charleston up 46-45 with 10:44 on the clock for one of her two second half baskets as the Golden Eagles took control of the contest down the stretch. Dixon ended the contest shooting 7-of-10 and 2-of-2 at the foul line for 16 points and seven rebounds.
Freshman Erica Rousculp (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) brought the holiday crowd of 200 to life as she stole the ball from Elena Antonenko at midcourt and powered to the basket for just her second score of the evening to give UC a controlling 59-48 advantage. Rousculp netted just four points along with seven rebounds in the contest, yet she was an integral part in shutting down the powerful inside threat of the Vulcans.
California (Pa.) refused to go to the locker room quietly by using a full-court press to pester the Golden Eagles into three late turnovers, which were converted by Ryah Gadson down the stretch to pull the Vulcans within three points (62-59) with 1:24 left in the game.
The home team leaned on Kentner down the stretch as the near perfect foul shooter kept Charleston just outside of the California (Pa.) comeback by nailing four-straight shots from the charity stripe as the final one came with eight seconds to play. Kentner is now 21-of-22 from the foul line this season for a 96 percent average.
Beatty’s 17 points is a season-high, while classmate Ali Tobias (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) was a perfect 4-for-4 behind the three-point arc to end the evening with 12 points and a game-high eight assists.
The Golden Eagles get back on the court against WVIAC contender WV Wesleyan in Buckhannon, W.Va. for a key matchup to tipoff at 5:30pm.
