Charleston, W. Va –The Golden Eagles started their regular season at home in the PSAC/MEC Women's Basketball Challenge. Charleston's first match would entail a battle with the Mercyhurst Lakers. This would prove to be a test for Charleston as the Lakers came to play this evening.
The Basics
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: UC 78, MU 74
Records: UC (1-0, 0-0 MEC), MU (0-1, 0-0 PSAC)
How it Happened
In the first quarter of play, the Golden Eagles and the Lakers both shot 8-16 from the field. As she typically does, Markyia McCormick contributed eight points on the scoreboard shooting 75% from the field and converting her single free throw at the line. Trinity Palacio took the liberty of scoring the first four points of the game with a layup and a long-range jumper; however, it was the Lakers who would hold a two-point lead at the horn. In a very balanced stat sheet, Lexi Wagner led the Lakers offensively with her six points as they ended the first period with a 20-18 lead.
Charleston scored the first two points of the second quarter at the line as Trinity Palacio would tie the game up 20-20. Wagner answered with a three-pointer that would be immediately matched by sharpshooter Dakota Reeves with 7:50 remaining in the first half. Suddenly, the Lakers kicked it into high gear and would go on a 10-2 run creating an eight-point deficit with 5:15 remaining. The run was led by Julia Buchman with her seven points off of free throws, jump shots, and a three pointer. Charleston managed to put several more points on the board, but the Lakers continued to roll on offense as they went into the locker room with a 38-33 lead over the Golden Eagles.
After the break, McCormick wasted no time at all putting up the first points of the half after a routine layup to get to within three points. The Lakers picked up right where they left off as they would find two three-pointers and several jump shots within the first five minutes of play to maintain their lead. As minutes became seconds, Charleston turned on the jets. After rallying back to within one, they would take the lead on a Trinity Palacio fast break as she found Abby Lee under the net for the go-ahead layup. Charleston would take their momentum into the fourth quarter with the 53-52 lead, their first of the evening.
Charleston would force a timeout from Mercyhurst after Dakota Reeves sank her shot from beyond the arc to take a four-point lead over the Lakers. The timeout would prove to be ineffective as Reeves would sink another three-pointer and Trinity Palacio would add her hook shot to cushion their lead to 61-52. Jayde Boyd of Mercyhurst would find her rhythm and answer the Golden Eagles' momentum with eight points of her own as she found two shots beyond the arc as well as a pair of free throws to get back to within one. Boyd would then dribble through contact and convert on an and-one opportunity to tie the ball game at 63-63. Palacio would cut the tie with a three of her own and took back the lead 66-63 with 4:33 remaining. After back-and-forth play, a Reeves free throw would put the Golden Eagles up by one with a minute and a half remaining in the game.
Charleston would force a missed shot from the Lakers with 0:52 remaining and Palacio would head to the line to sink two free throws to put the Golden Eagles on top 75-72, but she wasn't done yet. On Charleston's next possession, Palacio would make a clutch and-one layup to go up 78-72. The Golden Eagles would hang on for the win and take their first victory of the season over the Lakers with a final score of 78-74.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will be back at home tomorrow afternoon as the MEC/PSAC Women's Basketball Challenge continues. They will take on the California (PA) Vulcans on November 12
th at 2:00 PM.
