Erie, Pa – The University of Charleston opened its season with a two-game road trip in Pennsylvania, earning a gritty win over Slippery Rock on Saturday before falling to No. 5 Gannon on Sunday.
 
Game 1

The Basics

• Location: Highmark Events Center
• Final Score: UC 64, SRU 52
• Records: Charleston (1-0), Slippery Rock (0-1)

How It Happened
Charleston's first points of the season came from returner Paris Stokes, who converted a layup through contact to set the tone early. The opening quarter was tightly contested, with neither team leading by more than two points. Slippery Rock surged to start the second quarter, scoring seven unanswered to grab a nine-point advantage. Newcomer Livia O'Dea ended the run off a Stokes assist, sparking a UC push that trimmed the lead to three. The Golden Eagles continued to build momentum and took a 32–30 lead into halftime.

UC carried that energy into the second half. After Slippery Rock tied the game with an early layup, Charleston responded with an 8–0 run fueled by Stokes' playmaking. The Golden Eagles created some breathing room, though Slippery Rock closed the third quarter strong to cut the deficit to five. In the fourth quarter, Charleston displayed poise and control, maintaining a steady lead throughout to close out a 64–52 season-opening win.

The Golden Eagles dominated inside, outscoring Slippery Rock 40–22 in the paint. All-MEC standout Paris Stokes delivered a standout performance with 15 points, 7 assists, and 8 rebounds.

Game 2
The Basics

• Location: Highmark Events Center
• Final Score: UC 43, GU 68
• Records: Charleston (1-1), Gannon (4-1)

How It Happened
Looking to build on Saturday's win, Charleston faced a major test against No. 5 Gannon. Stokes again opened the scoring with a layup, but the Golden Knights quickly responded with a 10–0 run to seize early control. They held that advantage through the end of the first quarter. Charleston battled to keep the deficit manageable in the second, with freshman Natalie Smith making a strong impression by dominating inside. Still, Gannon closed the half on another run and entered the break leading by 15.

UC showed resilience in the third quarter. The backcourt duo of Jordan Scully and Stokes attacked aggressively, giving Gannon trouble and trimming the margin to eight heading into the fourth. O'Dea opened the final period with a jumper, but Gannon locked down defensively from there. Over the next six minutes, the Golden Knights unleashed a decisive 20–0 run. Laynie Binion eventually halted the drought, but the gap was too large to overcome as Gannon secured the 68–43 win.

Gannon capitalized on UC's mistakes, scoring 23 points off turnovers compared to Charleston's 9, and held a 15–6 edge in second-chance points. Stokes recorded her second straight double-digit scoring game with 13 points, while Smith impressed with 10 efficient points.

Up Next
Charleston returns home for its season opener on Wednesday, hosting Virginia State University at 11 a.m.