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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – #Tiana Beatty# (Charleston, W.Va./Capital) pulled the University of Charleston within two points to cap a ferocious comeback, but it would not be enough as Glenville State outlasted UC down the stretch to win the WVIAC Tournament Championship 77-73.
The top seeded Golden Eagles (24-7) grabbed the lead on a Tarenna Dixon (Morgantown, W.Va./University) layup just 40 seconds into the game and would hold the advantage until 4:27 remaining in the half. Back-to-back three-pointers by Beth Deren and Autumn Davis quieted the raucous Civic Center crowd to hand the Pioneers (23-8) a three point lead. GSU quickly expanded the advantage by hitting 6-of-7 free throws in the final three minutes of the opening period to take a 38-31 score into the locker room.
After the break, Glenville State attacked the center of the UC defense in the paint to outscore the Golden Eagles 23-14 under the basket. The second half dominance of the paint along with a slew of turnovers by Charleston allowed the Pioneers to seemingly run away with the game and pull away by as much as 16 points with 11 minutes remaining in the game. Despite a tough-night from the field West Virginia Conference Player of the Year Lindsey Kentner (Wapakoneta, Ohio/Wapakoneta) put the Golden Eagles team on her back to lead a comeback and show they were not folding under the endless pressure.
Kentner found her stroke in the final 10 minutes of play to exploit the weak GSU perimeter defense for 16 points, while fellow guards Chrissy Keir (Savreville, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick), Ali Tobias (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) and Beatty found the bottom of the net for 11 points.
Charleston charged back into control of the game in the final 4:40 of the game after Glenville State’s Tenisha Wilson was dismissed from the game with a technical foul. GSU’s 12 point advantage evaporated to just two points with six seconds remaining after Beatty’s jumper. The Golden Eagles would fight back valiantly yet fall short as Kenyell Goodson sank a pair of free throws with three seconds left to play to seal the game and the tournament title for the Pioneers, 77-73.
The University of Charleston landed three players on the All-Tournament team as Tobias, Dixon and Kentner each were honored for their efforts. Tobias was tabbed by the media covering the tournament as the recipient of the George Springer Trophy, which is an honor for individual sportsmanship during the conference tournament.
The Golden Eagles now wait for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional Tournament selection set to be chosen via an online selection show on Sunday, March 6. Charleston entered the WVIAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed in the region with eight teams making it to the regional tournament. Full coverage of the regional selection show will be available online at www.ucgoldeneagles.com
