Charleston, WV – The University of Charleston Women's Basketball team returned to the Wehrle Innovation Center on Wednesday night, battling a tough Mountain East Conference foe in West Liberty. With both teams missing their leading scorers, depth and composure became the story of the night, and UC rose to the challenge, securing a hard-fought 73–67 victory.
The Basics
- Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
- Final Score: UC 73, WLU 67
- Records: Charleston (4-4, 2-1 MEC), West Liberty (4-4, 1-1 MEC)
How It Happened
Both teams entered shorthanded, as UC's Paris Stokes and WLU's Bailee Smith were sidelined with injuries. With two major offensive threats unavailable, new contributors were forced to step into bigger roles.
West Liberty struck first behind Anna Lucarelli, who caught fire early by knocking down three triples and finishing the first quarter with 9 points. Charleston countered through Kennedi McLean, who dominated inside and tallied 8 points in the opening frame. The Hilltoppers held a 3-point edge to start the second quarter.
Freshman Jordan Scully found her rhythm midway through the second, draining back-to-back threes to swing momentum UC's way. The game remained tight throughout the quarter, and a Ksenija Mitric three briefly put the Golden Eagles ahead by five. However, West Liberty trimmed the margin just before halftime, with UC holding a narrow 31–30 lead.
Charleston opened the third quarter with energy, stretching the lead to 11 after Harper Annarino was fouled on a three-point attempt. But the Hilltoppers answered with a massive 19–4 run to reclaim the lead. Mitric kept UC afloat, scoring the final seven Golden Eagle points of the quarter to knot the score at 54 heading into the fourth.
West Liberty again surged ahead early in the final period, building a six-point lead with just 3:41 to play. But once more, Mitric delivered in the clutch. She scored 9 of UC's final 13 points, including a critical three-pointer that swung momentum back to Charleston. Annarino followed with a timely triple to give UC the lead for good, and the Golden Eagles closed out the 73–67 win with confidence.
Ksenija Mitric led the Golden Eagles with 21 points, controlling the offense and delivering crucial baskets down the stretch. Freshman Jordan Scully recorded a career-high 16 points, providing timely perimeter shooting that helped spark UC's momentum. Senior Kennedi McLean added an efficient 12 points in just 13 minutes, making a strong impact on her Senior Day.
Next Up
Charleston hits the road on Saturday, December 13, traveling to Wheeling University for a 2:00 PM tipoff.
