Charleston, W. Va – After making an appearance in the Mountain East Conference Championship, the University of Charleston women's basketball team has been selected as the 7^th seed in the NCAA Atlantic Regional. This Friday, they will take on the 2^nd seed in the Atlantic bracket, the Gannon Golden Knights. After the PSAC Tournament, the Golden Knights hold a record of 29-4 (19-3 PSAC) and, coincidentally, will be coming into this tournament off of a conference championship loss to California (PA). This will be just the second all-time meeting between the two teams, with the first matchup ending in a 61-56 Charleston victory back in 1997. 
 
The Golden Eagles have proven each year that they have what it takes to be a title-contending team. In her third year, Tianni Kelly has led Charleston to the Atlantic Regional Final every season at the helm, even though this year will be unaccompanied with the MEC Title. Earlier this season Charleston hosted the MEC/PSAC Challenge where they would defeat Mercyhurst 78-74 and California (PA) 80-73. Despite the championship loss, Charleston has a great deal of confidence going into the tournament with the wins they have under their belt from this season.
 
The Golden Eagles will be led by veteran point guard Trinity Palacio who has put on a show this season, averaging 15.8 points per game and shooting 41% from inside the arc with her signature jumpshot from the elbow that seems to never fail. Palacio is also not afraid of getting physical in the paint, bringing down nearly four rebounds a game. Reliable sharpshooter Dakota Reeves enters her final NCAA Regional Tournament as well. This season, she made 43% of her three-point attempts and also shot 43% from the field, averaging just under 12 points a game. 
 
For Gannon, Samantha Pirosko will be a person of interest that Charleston will need to contain if they want to stay alive in the postseason. Pirosko averages 20.3 points per game and has made more than half of her shots this season while simultaneously leading the team in rebounds with 7.6 per game. She is also a player that Charleston will not want to send to the line, as she comes into this matchup with an 81% conversion rate from the charity stripe. Contrary to Charleston, this is not a team that will put up many attempts in three-point territory; Emma Wright, the team leader in three-pointers, averages just two triples a game with a 37% shooting percentage.
 
This year's Atlantic Regional will be hosted at the Waco Center by Glenville State for the second year in a row after being named the 1^st seed in the region. The Golden Knights and the Golden Eagles will face each other on Friday March 10^th at 2:30 pm.