Charleston, W. Va – The Golden Eagles would start the 2023 year off at home with a matchup against the West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats. Charleston came into this one fresh off a victory against UVA-Wise on New Year's Eve, while the Bobcats have lost their last two by just five points. 
 
The Basics
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: UC 71, WVWC 51
Records: UC (11-2, 6-1 MEC), WVWC (1-10, 0-7 MEC) 
 
How it Happened
West Virginia Wesleyan played incredibly well to open up the 1^st quarter. They would go on to match every single point that the Golden Eagles scored with their 54% shooting percentage. The lead would change eight total times in the first ten minutes of play, but Wesleyan would find themselves with a 21-17 lead over Charleston. 
 
The Golden Eagles would start the 2^nd quarter with three triples from Abby Lee and Markyia McCormick and take back the lead. McCormick's second three would give Charleston a 28-23 lead with 7:13 remaining in the half. The Bobcats would claw back to tie the game at 30-30 with a shot from long range from Daveona Hatchell with 3:07 to go. Charleston would finish the quarter with a 9-4 run for the remainder of the half that was capped off with a McCormick triple just before the horn to take a 39-34 lead into the locker room. 
 
Charleston got back to playing Charleston basketball and began to spread their lead to double digits in the 3^rdperiod. They would hold the Bobcats to just 12 points for the quarter and manage 17 points all within the arc. Although they shot 50% at the line, Charleston made nearly half of their shots from the field. The scoring was very well distributed among the squad as points came from seven different Golden Eagles. Heading into the 4^th quarter, Charleston would hold a 56-46 lead over the Bobcats. 
 
Charleston then proceeded to open up the final quarter of play with an 11-3 run highlighted with Dakota Reeves' five points. The Golden Eagles would hold West Virginia Wesleyan to just five total points in the 4^thperiod as they shot 8% (1-12) from the field. Kiley Graham's pair of free throws with half a minute remaining in the game would be the final points scored as Charleston would extend their winning streak to seven games with a 71-51 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan. 
 
 
Up Next
Charleston will hit the road for a date with the Davis & Elkins Senators in the McDonnell Center on January 7^that 2:00 PM.