Box Score CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston used a huge first half to walk over West Liberty University, 76-49, on their way the Mountain East Conference Women's Basketball Championship to be played Sunday at the Charleston Civic Center.
 
Junior guard Chyress Lockhart led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 20 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field and 10-for-14 from the charity stripe.  Charleston got huge contributions from their bench, outscoring the Toppers 36 to nine over the 40 minutes.  Kali Cuttaia scored 12, Kiara Johnson added 10 and Kayla Dozier chipped in eight points.  Junior guard Nichole Perry had a solid all-around game scoring nine, pulling down a career-best eight rebounds and came away with three steals.
 
Liz Flowers paced the Hilltoppers with 20 points on 7-for-19 shooting in the losing effort.
 
Charleston trailed for the first two minutes and 12 seconds before taking over the game.  The Golden Eagles lead hovered around 10 points over the next 12 minutes as the UC lock down defense pressed the Topper shooters who yesterday couldn't miss.  After a Ross three-pointer at the 5:34 mark of the first half, UC outscored the Hilltoppers 20 to two capped off by another Ross triple at the buzzer to take a 27 point lead into the break.
 
West Liberty took advantage of a slow second half start from the Golden Eagles to trim the lead to 16, 49-33, with just under 12 minutes remaining in the contest.  Charleston regained focus to go on a 10-0 run and push their lead back out to 26 with 7:17 showing on the Civic Center clock.  The Toppers never got any than 22 over the final seven minutes as Charleston cruised to the 76-49 win and a berth into the Mountain East Conference Women's Basketball Championship.
 
The win improves the UC record to 21-7 on the season.  Charleston's last appearance in a conference tournament final was 2011 with a loss to Glenville.  The MEC title game is set for 1:00 p.m. tomorrow from the Charleston Civic Center.