Box Score
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston women’s basketball team survived a 38 percent shooting effort to pick up its eighth-straight win as they pulled away late for a 65-56 victory over Ohio Valley, Thursday night on the road.
Charleston (17-5, 13-3) hit 4-of-9 three-point field goals to counter a 40 percent shooting effort from Ohio Valley (10-8, 6-9) in the opening half. An unlikely scoring threat emerged in the opening frame as sophomore guard Chrissy Keir (Savreville, NJ / Cardinal McCarrick) nailed 3-of-3 attempts from behind the arc to lead all scorers with nine points. Keir entered the game averaging just 4.3 points per game, but it was her effort that pulled UC away to a 32-24 lead heading into break.
Senior Tarenna Dixon (Morgantown, W.Va. / University) continued to be a force in the paint as she put up a game-high 14 rebounds, while netting seven points. Dixon’s power partner in the lane Erika Rousculp (Worthington, Ohio / Thomas Washington) continued to grow as the other piece of UC’s two-sided attack under the basket with her second-straight eight point effort. Dixon and Rousculp assisted Charleston in scoring 26 points in the paint, while outscoring OVU 10-2 in second effort points.
The second half saw the Fighting Scots pull within one point with 7:30 left in the game, before leading scorer Lindsey Kentner (Wapakoneta, Ohio / Wapakoneta) exerted control of the offense to erupt for a team high 11 points and six rebounds in the final frame. Kentner would finish with a game-high 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting, while pulling down eight rebounds.
The University of Charleston pulled away again by double-digits with five minutes remaining and sealed the victory with a lock down defensive effort combined with 7-of-9 shooting from the charity stripe down the stretch. A last gasp of excitement ended the contest and a solid effort from Ohio Valley as Danielle Sams tossed a 66 ft. desperation heave that landed nothing but net for her second field goal of the game. The buzzer beater cut away the Golden Eagles double-digit advantage as time expired to set the score at 65-56.
UC committed 24 turnovers, yet forced 23 turnovers with a tough full-court press defense. Amber Avery led the way for Ohio Valley with 13 points, while Tiana Beatty (Charleston, W.Va. / Capital) followed close behind Kentner with 12 points and five assists.
The Golden Eagles return to the court as they square off against Davis & Elkins at 6:00 pm on Saturday, February 5 in Eddie King Gym.
