Charleston, W.Va- The Golden Eagle Women's Basketball team is off to a hot start this week leading up to their big weekend game against West Liberty. Tianni Kelly's squad has looked superb the last few weeks despite some injuries plaguing the team. The Golden Eagles handily defeated the visiting Alderson Broaddus Battlers on Monday, January 31^st. They then traveled to Wheeling to take on the Cardinals and took an eight-point victory on the road. The girls are currently on a five-game win streak with consecutive wins over Davis and Elkins, Frostburg State, Fairmont State, Alderson Broaddus and Wheeling.
 
The Basics
Location: H. Bernard Wehrle Arena – Charleston, W.Va
Score: UC- 91 ABU- 74
Records: Charleston (11-6, 9-4 MEC) Alderson Broaddus (8-10, 6-8 MEC)
 
How it Happened


The Golden Eagles struggled a bit to score in the beginning of the game against the Battlers, going down by as many as seven in the first quarter. However, a 10-point run quickly changed the momentum and gave the Golden Eagles a four point lead at 20-16 with 30 seconds left in the first quarter. UC built up their lead even further in the second quarter thanks to a 66.67 FG % in the period. The lead would be extended all the way to 14 at the end of the first half of play.
 
UC would continue to dominate in the third quarter stretching their lead to 19 from a three pointer by Trinity Palacio with 5:59 remaining. Jamia Nesmith, who had her best night of the year thus far stretched the lead to 21 with a layup to make the score 66-45. Some fight from the Battlers would make the score 73-59 at the end of the third quarter.
 
The fourth quarter saw UC play some outstanding defense and solidify their lead to give them the win. With 7:44 left in the contest the Battlers made a three to put the score at 75-69. This would be the last bucket made by Alderson Broaddus for 6 minutes. UC stretched the lead to 90-69 before the Battlers finally scored after a foul by Maggie Stephenson. Charleston would run out the clock to take the contest by a final score of 91-74.

The Basics
Location: Alma McDonough Center – Wheeling, W.Va
Score: UC- 85 WU- 77
Records: Charleston (12-6, 10-4 MEC) Wheeling (5-14, 5-10 MEC)
 
How it Happened 
 
Wednesday's contest against host Wheeling would be a closer affair with the Golden Eagles relying on a big second and third quarters to win the game. Wheeling outscored the Golden Eagles 20-12 in the first quarter as UC shot just 23% in the quarter. At the end of the first the Cardinals held a 20-12 lead.
 
The second quarter saw the Golden Eagles score 15 points to the tune of two threes and a 42.86% from the field. At halftime Wheeling held just a four point lead with Charleston looking to take over in the second half.
 
The good matchup between the two squads was apparent in the third quarter as the score remained knotted at 43 with just one quarter left to play. The fourth quarter would also not be enough to crown a victor of the tight contest. Both teams scored 18 in the fourth quarter. The Golden Eagles had a chance to win it at the end of regulation but a block by Wheeling's Shamia Strayhorn kept the score knotted at 61 at the end of four.
 
The first overtime saw the Golden Eagles jump out to a 70-62 lead with 1:57 left to play. Back-to-back threes and a layup by the Cardinals tied the score up at 70 with 22 seconds left to play. Abby Lee was able to get the last shot off but was unable to convert and the game would go to a second overtime period.
 
The second overtime saw the Golden Eagles able to hold their lead this time around. Markyia McCormick had a huge and one with 1:27 left to play to put Charleston up by six. From there it would just be about playing good defense and knocking down important free throws as the Cardinals desperately tried to get back in the game. With 39 seconds left to play Markyia would drain her free throw to essentially put the nail in the coffin. Charleston ran out the clock from there and took their fifth straight win.

Up Next: On Saturday evening the Golden Eagles will take on a red-hot West Liberty Hilltopper squad. The game will take place at 2 p.m. in the H. Bernard Wehlre Arena in Charleston.
 
--UC--