Box Score Charleston,WV -  Jessi Cowden (Tomball, TX) and the Golden Eagles run away from Bluefield State, 87-70, in an important WVIAC matchup.

Charleston (13-10, 10-9 WVIAC) began in an atypical fashion with no full court pressure by the Golden Eagles.   This strategy didn't seem to be too effective as the Lady Blues would jump out to 12 point lead in the first half over UC.  Coach Collins reverted back to his traditional ways of "chaos" and pushing the tempo.  The ladies responded as the Golden Eagles would outscore Bluefield State 10-0 over the last four minutes to only trail by two points going into the break, 40-38. 

Charleston got a huge first half by Cowden who was unconscious in the first 20 minutes going nine for twelve from the floor, hitting five 3-point FG's to account for 26 first half points,  two off the record by a UC woman in a half.
 
Charleston continued their run into the second half outscoring Bluefield 17-6 taking a nine point lead, 55-46, with 15 minutes showing on the clock.  Bluefield would cut the lead down to five, 63-58, but Kaitlyn Theisen (Saranac, MI) hit back to back three’s to extend the lead back to 11 with eight minutes to go. Bluefield would never  threaten for the remainder of the game as the Golden Eagles ran away with a 87-70 victory.

Cowden's effort this evening  was one for the record books as she tallied 44 points, just two points shy of the all-time record by a UC woman.  Her eight made three-pointers tied the Charleston record for triples made in a game. The 44 points also marks the most for a WVIAC student-athlete this year and the second most in Division II this season.

UC will return to action Monday as they host Glenville State at Eddie King Gym with tip-off set for 5:30pm.