Box Score INSTITUTE, W.Va. –  The Golden Eagles overcame a rough start behind a career high 23 points from LeAnne Ross to open the 2013-14 season with a 76-57 win over Johnson C. Smith Friday evening in the MEC/CIAA Classic hosted by West Virginia State University.
 
Charleston stumbled out of the gates and found themselves down seven after four minutes of action, 14-7, but quickly found their range scoring the next eight points to take a one point lead after a LeAnne Ross three pointer.  With Charleston trailing by one at 21-22 with 8:35 remaining in the half, the Golden Eagles turned up the offense and went on a 21-4 run to close out the half and head to the break leading by 16, 42-26.
 
Ross led all scorers with 11 points and chipped in 4 boards in a slow first half that was marred by fouls, 19 to be exact. KJ Johnson was a beast on the glass in the first twenty minutes, pulling down seven rebounds and anchoring the middle of the Charleston defense. 
 
The Golden Eagles extended the lead out to 20 points within the first minute of play of the second half after Ross would drill back-to-back three pointers and it appeared UC would run away with the contest.  Johnson C. Smith didn't go away easily and worked the deficit down to eight points, 54-46, at the eight minute mark after a pair of made free throws.  Charleston responded with a pair of triples from TIanni Kelly and Ross to push the lead back out to 14 points and the Golden Eagles never looked back, cruising to a 76-57 win in the season debut.
 
UC was led by Ross's career highs in points, 23, and made three-pointers with six.  She also pulled down five rebounds in her 32 minutes of action.  Charleston also got double digit scoring efforts from DJ Reddix (11) and Chryress Lockhart (13) and KJ Johnson cleaned up the glass, grabbing 10 rebounds in her Charleston debut.
 
Deanna Downer scored 17 points on 6-for12 shooting and Quinesha Lynch added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Golden Bulls in the losing effort.
 
UC (1-0) returns to action tomorrow in the second game of the MEC/CIAA Classic to take on Chowan University with tip-off set for 5:30pm on the campus of the WV State University in Institute.