California, Pa – This past weekend, the Golden Eagles got their season started in the MEC/PSAC Conference Challenge with matchups with the Kutztown Golden Bears and the California (Pa) Vulcans. These were two very early tests for the Golden Eagles as the Vulcans had won the PSAC Tournament in the previous year and the Golden Bears had made it to the quarterfinal round in last year's tournament. 
 
The Basics
Location: Convocation Center
Score: UC 52, KU 49
Records: UC 1-0, KU 0-1
 
How it Happened
In a very low-scoring first quarter of action, the Golden Eagles would limit the Golden Bears to just six points in the first quarter, shooting 30% from the field and not making a single triple to begin the game. Charleston would also struggle to make shots in the first quarter with a 14% shooting percentage, making two three-pointers and two free throws to end the quarter with an 8-6 lead over the Golden Bears. 
 
The second quarter would show much improvement from Charleston as they would shoot 36% from the field and sink nearly half of their three pointers in the quarter. The Golden Eagles would be led offensively in the first half by Ksenija Mitric with her eight points and three rebounds, followed by Taylor Austin with seven points. Charleston would take a 24-19 lead into the locker room after putting up 16 points in the second quarter. 
 
The Golden Eagles would come out and dominate on defense and begin to spread the margin between them and the Golden Bears, limiting Kutztown to just five points while putting up 14 on the other end of the court. Kutztown would shoot 1-12 from the field (8%) and Charleston would hit nearly 40% of their shots and extend their lead to 14 points at the end of the third. 
 
Charleston would hold a double-digit lead over Kutztown for the majority of the final period, but the Golden Bears would begin to claw back into the ballgame with just over two minutes left to go. Abbey Hearn's jumper from close-range would cut the lead to one score with just under 40 seconds left on the clock. The Golden Bears would have one opportunity to tie the game on a last-second three-pointer from Abbey Hearn, but it would miss, and Charleston would find their first win in their season-opener on the road. 
 
The Basics
Location: Convocation Center
Score: UC 48, CAL 64
Records: UC 1-1, CAL 2-0
 
How it Happened
The Golden Eagles would have a stellar first quarter against the reigning PSAC Tournament Champions, putting up 12 points of offense with a 50% shooting percentage and holding the Vulcans to 10 on the other side of the court. It would be in the second quarter, however, when the Vulcans began to hit the gas pedal and put up 21 total points of offense in the quarter led by Allycia Harris' nine points and five rebounds. Charleston would find just 11 in the quarter and would begin to struggle from the field, shooting 38% (5-13) and finding just one triple in the quarter. They would head into halftime down by eight to the Vulcans. 
 
It would be the same song and dance to begin the second half, as the Vulcans continued to roll offensively shooting over 50% from the field and knocking down every single one of their free throws. They would find 23 points to add onto their score while Charleston shot 3-14 from the field and could only formulate nine points of offense. The Vulcans would take a 54-32 lead into the fourth quarter over the Golden Eagles. 
 
Charleston would improve their shooting percentage to 43% in the quarter, but the Vulcans had created too much separation in the middle quarters and the Golden Eagles would fall in their second game of the MEC/PSAC Challenge.
 
Up Next
Charleston will face the Gannon Golden Knights in the Highmark Events Center this Wednesday on November 15^th at 5:30 PM.