Box Score
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The power in the paint of senior Tarena Dixon (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) and Erika Rousculp (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) paved the way for the University of Charleston women’s basketball team to upset West Virginia Conference leading Seton Hill 54-42, Saturday night.
The Dixon and Rousculp combination accounted for 24 rebounds on the evening, while the visiting Griffins (9-2, 5-2) managed just 25 total rebounds as a team overall. Rousculp was also responsible for disrupting the SHU offense in the paint all night as she tallied four steals and a block in the contest.
A jumper from leading scorer Lindsey Kentner (Wapakonta, Ohio/Wapakoneta) just 39 seconds into the game was all it took to put Charleston (9-4, 5-2) on top as the Golden Eagles never surrendered the lead after the opening tip. Seton Hill managed to stay in the game by taking advantage of uncharacteristic turnovers by UC as the Griffins were down by 11 three separate times in the contest, yet fought to stay within seven (27-20) at halftime. Seton Hill outscored Charleston 8-to-3 in points off turnovers in the first half.
In the second half, the turnover problems for the University of Charleston continued, but SHU was unable to make any headway into the home team’s advantage as the Griffins inside game was shut down by Rousculp and Dixon. The inside pressure forced Seton Hill outside of its comfort zone as they managed just 25 percent (9-of-36) shooting in the second half, which left them with just a 28 percent (18-of-64) average for the game.
The Griffins continued to take advantage of the Charleston turnovers in the second half to score 10 points, yet would only be able to pull within five points with 4:04 remaining to play before UC took control for the victory. The Golden Eagles made just enough free throws down the stretch to keep Seton Hill out of reach. UC was just 12-of-23 from the charity stripe but hit the big shots in the final minute to seal the 54-42 win.
Kentner led all UC scorers in the game with 17 points and six rebounds, which was followed closely by Tiana Beatty (Charleston, W.Va./Capital) with 15 points and nine rebounds. Ali Tobias (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) continued her approach of quietly leading the three-point barrage of Charleston as she was 4-of-4 behind the arc to total 11 points and six assists. Kentners 17 point effort moved her into 20th place in the University of Charleston all-time scoring list at 1,213 points, which is just six points off the next spot in line.
Charleston has a quick turnaround as they get back on the court Monday, January 10 for a 5:30 pm tipoff on the road against an 8-5, 6-2 WVIAC opponent Glenville State.
