CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston Golden Eagles Women's Basketball team (1-0, 1-0 MEC)  opened up their 2021 season with a 69-56 victory over the Concord University Mountain Lions, marking Tianni Kelly's first win of her head coaching career. 

JUST THE BASICS
SCORE: Charleston 69 , Mountain Lions 56
LOCATION: Charleston, W. Va. — Wehrle Innovation Center 
TEAM RECORDS: Charleston (1-0, 1-0 MEC), Concord (0-1, 0-1 MEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Eagles came out hot scoring seven unanswered points that started with a three from Trinity Palacio, but a 10-3 run from the Mountain Lions tied the game up at 10-10 with just over two minutes to play in the opening period. The Golden Eagles responded again with seven straight points to end the quarter with a 17-10 lead.  

Charleston opened the second quarter with a three from sophomore guard, Dakota Reeves to gain the 10-point lead. Charleston continued to pull away to head into the break leading Concord 33-20. 

Charleston closed the first half shooting just over 30 percent from the field, but a strong 66 percent from behind the arc. 

The Golden Eagles continued to pull away through the third quarter led by Reeves from behind the arc. Through the fourth quarter the Golden Eagles offense continued to surge, leading the Mountain Lions by as many as 20 points midway through the fourth. 

Charleston clung to their lead finishing with the 15 point victory in the first competition for any Golden Eagles team in 311 days. 

Charleston Leaders (25-67, 37.3 percent from the field)
Dakota Reeves - 17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Erykah Russell - 16 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist 
Brooklyn Pannell - 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists 

Concord Leaders (20-38, 52.6 percent percent from the field)
Riley Fitzwater – 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Maggie Guynn - 8 points, 1 rebound
Alexis Phillips - 6 points, 8 rebounds

—UC—