Box Score WHEELING, W. Va. – The University of Charleston Golden Eagles women's basketball team is the 2021 Mountain East Conference Champions after defeating the Glenville State Pioneers 87-80 is MEC action on Sunday afternoon. Charleston was led by MEC Tournament MVP, Erykah Russell with 39 points and 16 rebounds in the contest. Charleston will await the NCAA Division II Selection Show on Sunday night for their matchup in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
JUST THE BASICS
Location: Wheeling, W. Va.
Score: Charleston: 87, Glenville State: 80
Records: Golden Eagles: (17-2), Pioneers: (12-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Abby Stoller got the ball rolling for the Pioneers with the first basket of the contest, jumping out to an 8-4 lead, but senior guard Brooklyn Pannell knocked down a three to bring UC within one point, before Erykah Russell finished in the paint on the next possession to give the Golden Eagles the 9-8 advantage. The Pioneers would then go on a 9-1 run to take the 17-10 lead over Charleston.
At the 2:48 mark in the first quarter the Golden Eagles found themselves in a 10-point hole, down 24-14 to the Pioneers. With less than a minute to play in the first quarter Dakota Reeves hit a three to bring UC within nine points of the Pioneers. The Golden Eagles fought their way back into the contest with points on two straight possessions from Erykah Russel to bring UC within seven, but Winfield would complete the three-point play to bring the score to 35-25.
Charleston went on a 10-1 run to bring the score to 41-29 with 2:12 to play in the half, the Pioneers extended the gap to 46-41 with just over a minute to play, but Dakota Reeves brought the score to 46-43 with 25 seconds to play, but the Pioneers again extended their lead to 48-43 to close the half.
Charleston opened the second half with unanswered points form the Golden Eagles tied the game up at 48-48, the Pioneers again extended their lead to 57-48, but Charleston climbed their way back into the game following a pair of free-throws from Trinity Palacio to get the Golden Eagles within two points of GSC. It was Palacio again from the line that tied the game up for Charleston.
Through the final minutes of the third quarter the Pioneers offense surged as Charleston struggled to find the basket over the course of the final four minutes. Heading into the fourth the Golden Eagles again found themselves down by six points to Glenville State.
After facing a near 10-point deficit to start the final frame the Golden Eagles went on a 7-0 run before the 6:37 mark to cut the Pioneer lead to just two points. Erykah Russell went 2-for-2 from the stripe with just over three minutes to play to once again bring the Golden Eagles within two points of the Pioneers. It was again Russell who drove the lane with less than two to play to tie the game up at 78-all. On the next possession Brooklyn Pannell hit a jumper to give Charleston the 80-78 lead. Reeves again from the line gave Charleston the 82-78 lead with just under a minute to play in the fourth.
With 40 seconds to play Russell converted two from the charity stripe to give the Golden Eagles a six-point lead over the Pioneers. With six seconds left on the clock, Russell sealed the 87-80 victory with a pair of free throws for the Golden Eagles.
UC Leaders
Erykah Russell - 39 points, 16 rebounds, 3 steals
Brooklyn Pannell - 18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Dakota Reeves - 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
Glenville State Leaders
Zakiyah Winfield – 18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists
Re'Shawna Stone – 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Abby Stoller – 10 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists
UP NEXT
Charleston will await the NCAA Division II Selection show announcement on Sunday.
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