WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The #17 ranked Hilltoppers used a dominant second half to pull away from the Golden Eagles Thursday evening in the ASRC, defeating Charleston 80-56.
 
The loss gives Charleston an 8-12 overall record and 5-8 in Mountain East Conference play.  The Golden Eagles currently sit in 8^th place in the 12 team league but only trail 6^th place West Virginia State University by one game.  Charleston next faces the second place Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals on Saturday, a team the Golden Eagles defeated by 10, 68-58, after returning from the holiday break back on January 4.
 
UC trailed by only six points, 22-28, going into halftime Thursday evening but the Golden Eagles couldn't find an answer for Kailee Howe in the final two quarters, finishing with 41 points and 10 assists for the Hilltoppers.  West Liberty forced 21 Charleston turnovers, turning the UC miscues into 23 points on the other end.
 
Charleston's Kiara Johnson paced UC with another double-double scoring 14 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.  Mya Walker chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds in the loss.