Charleston, WV – Charleston returned to the Wehrle Innovation Center on Saturday afternoon for a rivalry showdown against West Virginia State in a high-stakes Mountain East Conference matchup.

The Basics

• Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
• Final Score: UC 63, WVSU 53 
• Records: Charleston (11-7, 8-3 MEC), West Virginia State (7-10, 4-7 MEC)

How It Happened
West Virginia State jumped out early, opening the game on a 5–0 run before Harper Annarino scored Charleston's first basket. The opening quarter quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to create separation. The Yellow Jackets closed the period strong and took a narrow 12–10 lead into the second quarter.
Offense was hard to come by early in the second, as both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net. Each side managed just two points over the first five minutes. Charleston found its rhythm late in the quarter behind Ksenija Mitric and Paris Stokes, who combined for 10 points, but West Virginia State continued to answer on the other end. The Golden Eagles headed into halftime trailing by just one, 27–26.

The third quarter followed a similar script. Both teams traded baskets and fought for control, but neither could pull away. Annarino and Bridget Womber provided a spark for Charleston, combining for nine points in the period. However, West Virginia State had the final word, knocking down a jumper with 45 seconds remaining to take a two-point lead heading into the fourth.
Charleston saved its best basketball for the final quarter. After a tightly contested opening three minutes, the Golden Eagles shifted gears. From the six-minute mark to two minutes remaining, UC went on a decisive 13–0 run, fueled by strong defense and efficient offense. Freshman Natalie Smith led the charge, scoring six straight points during the surge. The Yellow Jackets were unable to recover, and Charleston closed out the game at the free-throw line. Nevaeh Brooks scored UC's final three points to seal the 63–53 victory.

Paris Stokes led all scorers with 18 points, while Ksenija Mitric and Harper Annarino each added 12 for the Golden Eagles.
Next Up 
Charleston continues its homestand on Wednesday, January 28, hosting Wheeling University at 5:30 p.m. at the Wehrle Innovation Center.