Charleston, W. Va – Charleston would face the Salem Tigers for the second time this season on Saturday. The Golden Eagles defeated the Tigers 71-53 in their previous meeting back in January in the T. Edward Davis Gymnasium. 
 
The Basics
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: UC 61, SU 49
Records: UC 15-9 (10-6 MEC), SU 4-20 (DII Independent)
 
How it Happened
A low-scoring affair defined the opening stages of this matchup at home for Charleston. They would limit the Salem Tigers to just nine points in the quarter, but they were unable to spread the margin as they would find 13 points on the other room, shooting 31% from the floor and finding just one three pointer from Taylor Austin at the midway point in the quarter. After taking a 13-9 lead into the second, the Golden Eagles found their rhythm from beyond the arc hitting 4-9 triples and improving their shooting percentage to 42%. Salem would also shoot well in the quarter, allowing for them to match all of Charleston's points put up in the quarter to stay within two possessions. Anna Machykova of Salem would hit a jumper with time winding down in the quarter to give the Tigers a boost heading into the halftime break, but Charleston took the 27-23 lead into the locker room. 
 
The Golden Eagles came out of the break and began to spread the margin with four quick points from Clarrissa Francis and two from Haley Moore to take a 33-25 lead with just over a minute and a half played in the quarter. The Tigers would not let the game slip out of their grasp just yet as they would rally back to get within four once more after a close-range shot from Carine Pinkney. Paris Stokes' two free throws at the end of the quarter gave Charleston a 43-37 advantage heading into the fourth. 
 
It would be all Charleston as they were finally able to break the game open and spread the margin between them and the visitors. This was a result of a perfect quarter at the charity stripe, going 7-7 from the line. Salem would find a pair of three pointers, but they would shoot 30% from the floor in their comeback attempt. When the final horn blew, Charleston took the second matchup over Salem 61-49. 
 
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will be on the road to Buckhannon, WV to face West Virginia Wesleyan this Wednesday in the Rockefeller Center on February 21^st at 5:30 PM.