Charleston, W.Va- On a pinked-out Wednesday night in support of breast cancer awareness, the Golden Eagles Women's Basketball squad faced off against the Falcons of Notre Dame College. With post-season placement becoming a factor, Charleston was looking to finish out the regular season on a high note with a win over a high-powered Falcon squad.
 
The Basics
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: UC- 93 Notre Dame - 76
Records: Charleston (15-7, 13-5 MEC) Notre Dame (12-11, 11-7 MEC)
 
How it Happened
 
The Falcons were able to snap the opening tipoff, but it was a slow start to the ballgame offensively. The first basket of the night came from a long range three pointer by Charleston's veteran guard, Anastasiia Zakharova. Markyia McCormick matched her fellow teammate's three pointer with one of her own putting the Golden Eagles up 12-4 a few minutes later. Charleston was able to extend their lead with their defense, not allowing Notre Dame to find easy baskets. McCormick put on a ballhandling clinic in the first quarter crossing up Falcons like it was pretzel day while simultaneously putting up three pointers. Notre Dame began to make a rally towards the sound of the horn and at the end of one found themselves trailing only by four.
 
The Falcons were also able to formulate some solid defense as they forced a shot clock violation by the Golden Eagles to start the second quarter, their second of the game. Trinity Palacio was successful on a tough and-one play and converted at the line. Abby Lee joined her teammates in three-point land as she connected from long range putting Charleston up 30-20 with 6:59 remaining in the half. NDC forced yet another shot clock violation on the Golden Eagles and they were able to bring the deficit to five with three minutes remaining in the half. Palacio found her inner Michael Singletary and started playing down and dirty in the paint. NDC made sure to go after any ball that could be a potential jump ball, but Palacio ripped the ball from a Falcon grip and managed to convert on a tough layup. At the end of the half, Charleston found themselves up 40-32.
 
Right out of the gate, McCormick found some ankles that needed to be broken and a basket that needed to be made, so she went for both and got Charleston the early bucket. After being jumped by Coach Kelly, Sierra Davis got on her high horse and started going after the glass and putting in second-effort layups. Charleston then proceeded to gain the momentum and gain some quick baskets before NDC called a timeout with 6:14 remaining in the third with Charleston up 51-35. Dakota Reeves did her typical routine and drained an effortless three pointer to go up 56-37 with 3:13 remaining. Clarissa Francis let it be known that she is not to be messed with inside the paint, after sending two shots back to the floor on defense and getting a tough rebound on the other end leading to a foul. Sierra Davis knocked home a deep three at the horn to put Charleston up 69-44 to end the third.
 
Davis continued the scoring for the Golden Eagles with a layup dished from Reeves to go up 71-50 in the opening possessions. There were a lot of tough calls going for both sides for the opening four minutes of the quarter, but the deficit remained separated. NDC proceeded to play full court press despite the deficit. Many baskets for NDC came from the free throw line and were able to convert quite a few. Nakiyah Bumgardner-Ferguson was able to find a layup after Palacio dished a nice pass underneath the basket to go up 80-59 with 3:59 remaining in the game. After crossing t's and dotting some i's, Charleston came away with the 93-76 victory over the Falcons.
 
 
 
Up Next: Charleston will be traveling up to Philippi, WV to face off against the Alderson Broaddus Battlers at 2:00 p.m. this Saturday on February 19^th.