CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston outscored the visiting Yellow Jackets from West Virginia State University by 17 in the second half to go on for a 71-60 win and a share of the Mountain East Conference regular season title Saturday afternoon as UC officially closed the Eddie King Gymnasium.

Kiara Johnson led the Golden Eagles with a huge performance, scoring 17 points and pulling down 20 rebounds in the winning effort.  Nichole Perry paced Charleston in the scoring column with 18 points in her final regular season game as a Golden Eagle while sophomore Monet Saunders chipped in 15 points from her forward position.
West Virginia State's Deyahnna Styles led all scorers with 21 points, playing all 40 minutes in the Yellow Jackets losing effort.  Alexus Hobbs was second in scoring for WVSU, chipping in 13 on 5-for-13 shooting and canning three three-pointers.

UC struggled from the field in the first 20 minutes, converting on just 29% of their first half field goal attempts which resulted in a six-point deficit for the Golden Eagles going into the break, 27-33. 

Charleston, determined to close the King with a win, responded in the second half by outscoring the visiting Yellow Jackets 44-27 over the final 20 minutes.  UC grabbed their first lead since 10:39 left in the first half at the 15:06 mark in the second on a layup by Kiara Johnson that gave Charleston a 39-37 lead.  The Golden Eagles never trailed again and built their lead to as many as 14 points, before settling for an 11-point MEC championship clinching win over the Yellow Jackets, 71-60.

UC finished the season with a 22-6 overall record and 17-5 in Mountain East play.  Charleston shared the MEC regular season title with West Liberty and Shepherd but after tiebreakers will be the third seed heading into the MEC Tournament.  The Golden Eagles will face the winner of the Notre Dame and West Virginia Wesleyan game to be played on Tuesday evening.