Box Score WHEELING, W. VA. -- The University of Charleston Women's Basketball team fell in the Semifinal Round of Mountain East Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon to the Falcons from Notre Dame College by a score of 73-66. The Golden Eagles were led offensively by
Anna Hayton, who finished the game with 19 points and seven rebounds while
Erykah Russell recorded 11 points and 13 rebounds.
The game began with Hayton scoring the opening basket just ten-seconds into the ball game on an assist from
Trinity Palacio. The next two minutes of play went scoreless on both ends as full-court pressure from Charleston kept the Falcon offense off the scoreboard until the 7:03 mark in the first quarter. Careless turnovers from both teams lasted through the first five minutes of play while a 5-0 run from the Falcons had Notre Dame leading 7-3 at the first media break. After coming off the bench for Palacio,
Anastasiia Zakharova's relentless effort on both ends to close out the half allowed the Golden Eagles to tie the game at 11-11 on a buzzer-beating three-point attempt by
Dakota Reeves.
After allowing Falcon sharp-shooter Seina Adachi to record 22 first quarter points on January 18
th, the Golden Eagles held the threat scoreless (0-of-5 FG) in the first quarter along with teammate Jada Marone.
Through the first five minutes of the second quarter, Notre Dame's only buckets came from beyond the arc as both Adachi and Marone were able to get on the board to give Notre Dame the lead back at 20-19. Out of the break, a 5-0 run from the Falcons was followed up by a 6-0 run from the Golden Eagles to put the game tied at 27 with under a minute to play. Notre Dame scored one more basket than the Golden Eagles over the final minute to hold a 31-29 advantage headed into the break.
Both team shot the ball below their season averages in the opening half, with the Golden Eagles holding a three tick advantage at 38% (9-of-24). The Golden Eagles forced nine Notre Dame turnovers resulting in 13 points while Hayton led all scorers with 13 points. In two games against the Golden Eagles this season, Notre Dame shot the ball 42.8% in the opening halves. Charleston turnovers were the key for NDC in the half while despite shooting 35.0% in the half, were able to carry a two-point lead.
The second half began with each team exchanging buckets before four straight free throws from
Brooklyn Pannell allowed UC to tie the game at 35. Consecutive layups from Falcon Tamia Ridley gave the Falcons a four-point lead before Pannell sent the Golden Eagles into the media timeout down by one after a made three-ball. The momentum of the game immediately changed, as out of the timeout, the Falcons put together a 14-3 run to close out quarter and extend their lead to 12 points. Going scoreless for nearly four minutes, Charleston's only field goal in the last five minutes of the quarter came from the hands of Reeves from beyond the arc.
In a desperate attempt to close the deficit, Charleston applied a full-court press that was displayed in the opening half to begin the fourth quarter. Notre Dame handled the press accordingly and used a 7-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 19 points.
Trailing 60-41, Charleston scored just their second bucket in over nine minutes dating back to the third quarter which served as part of an 8-0 run to keep the Golden Eagles in contention down 10 points with 3:30 remaining in the game. The Golden Eagles continued to pressure the Falcons and cut their deficit to just five points with 33.3 seconds remaining, trailing 69-64.
Having to foul in order to extend the game, the Falcons halted Charleston's comeback effort to seal the win at 73-66.
Charleston Leaders (20-of-59, 34.0% from the floor)
Anna Hayton – 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
Brooklyn Pannell – 14 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist
Dakota Reeves – 12 points, 2 rebounds
Erykah Russell – 11 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist
Notre Dame Leaders (24-of-64, 38.0% from the floor)
Seina Adachi – 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
Jennifer Oduho – 13 points, 5 rebounds
