Charleston, W.Va – The UC Women's Basketball team took on top four Mountain East Conference opponent West Liberty on Saturday afternoon in the H. Bernard Wehrle Arena in Charleston West Virginia. The Golden Eagles played a close game that ended up falling the way of the Hilltoppers after some last second drama.
The Basics
Location: H. Bernard Wehrle Arena – Charleston, W. Va
Score: UC – 77 WLU - 78
Records: Charleston (12-7, 10-5 MEC) West Liberty (15-6, 10-5)
How It Happened
Both teams came into the contest locked in at fourth in the MEC with just a half a game between them and second place West Virginia State. The Golden Eagles, winners of their last five straight, also entered averaging 74 points per game while holding opponents to just68. The 6.1 margin is good enough for third best in the MEC just behind their opponent West Liberty (13.5) and No. 1 ranked Glenville State.
The game started off rocky for the Golden Eagles as they went down 17-4 with 2:46 left on the clock. UC would muster a few more points to bring it to within 10 at the end of the period. The struggles of the Golden Eagles were highlighted by the 25% FG percentage and no threes pointers made.
Tianni Kelly's game plan in the second consisted of taking higher percentage shots and holding the Hilltoppers while on the other side of the ball. Her plan seemed to work as Golden Eagles shot a remarkable 71% from the field while going 75% from beyond the arc with threes made by sharpshooter Dakota Reeves (2) and Markyia McCormick. McCormick's three at the end of the second quarter brought the Hilltopper lead to just four at 39-35 with 20 action-packed minutes left to play.
The Golden Eagles started the second half with a bucket from center CC Davis to bring it to within two points. After a foul by Abby Lee that gave the Hilltoppers two point from the foul line. CC was able to gather up another pass from the hands of Trinity Palacio to bring it back within two. She would end the third quarter tallying nine points. The rest of the period would see back and forth action with the Golden Eagles staying in the game with good decision-making and tough defense. The quarter ended with the Hilltoppers up by three at 56-53.
With just one to play the Golden Eagles looked to make a move at the lead that the Hilltoppers had held throughout the contest. Make a move they did as the first possession for Charleston saw CC Davis earn three points with an and one play to tie the score at 56. One Hilltopper turnover and a bucket by Trinity Palacio and the Charleston had its first lead of the game. They would extend the lead to five with two more points from free throws by Palacio with 8:23 left to play. The rest of the game was back and forth and intense with the Golden Eagles holding their lead for the next six and a half minutes. The Hilltoppers took a one-point lead with 33 seconds left before Maggie Stephenson made a layup in the paint with 10 seconds on the ticker. Unfortunately, a questionable foul call on freshman Jamia Nesmith and an even more questionable injury substitution led to the Hilltoppers getting to shoot two foul shots with their best shooter and just four seconds on the clock. Tianni Kelly would immediately call a timeout and set up junior Markyia McCormick to have a chance to win it as time expired. However, McCormick was unable to convert after a serious amount of contact under the rim and the Golden Eagles would fall 78-77 to West Liberty.
UP NEXT
The Golden Eagles will return to action against West Virginia Wesleyan College on February 9 in the Innovation Center.
