Buckhannon WV: UC goes down, not without a fight In conference rivalry.  
 
The Basics 

• Location: Rockefeller Center
• Final Score: UC 73, WVWC 76 
• Records: Charleston (16-9, 12-5 MEC), West Virginia Wesleyan (16-5, 13-4 MEC) 

 
How it Happened 
 
UC started the game off with a a Natalie Smith layup. The Bobcats scored right back. These buckets set the tone for the first quarter and even the game as two of the tops team in the MEC would trade buckets. Ksenija Mitric had two threes in the first and Livia O'Dea added some points of her own helping Charleston finish the fourth quarter up by three 18-15. 
The Golden Eagles got off to a quick start as Bridget Womber and Naveah Brooks scored to put UC up 22-15. WVWC bounced and hit a couple of jumpers bringing the game within one point. This quarter would remain close throughout as Natalie Smith and Bridget Womber would do most of the scoring for UC while the Bobcats Emma Witt and Sydney Baird went toe with them. The half would end on a last-second layup which tied the game up at 33. 

The Golden Eagles came out of halftime on fire. The entire lineup had a bucket early in this third, leading to a 12-2 run. The Bobcats couldn't find an answer as everyone pitched in giving Charleston a 47-35 lead with just five and a half minutes left in the third. West Virginia Wesleyan wouldn't go down easily, as they went on a run of their own. A few stops and some timely three pointers put the Bobcats right back in the game. Both teams battled, but a Livia O'Dea layup gave the Golden Eagles a 53-49 advantage going into the fourth and final quarter.  
Charleston looked to keep the pressure on in the fourth, and they did score the first seven points to open the final quarter. Bridget Womber had some big offensive rebounds that led to hustle points for UC. She would also have the bucket which gave The Golden Eagles an eleven-point lead. Charleston kept the lead for a while but not forever as WVWC stormed back. The Bobcats scored on consecutive possessions and then drained a massive three pointer bringing them within one. Charleston would score but Kilah Dandridge from West Virginia Wesleyan hit a three-tying the game up at 71. UC put up another basket, but Dandridge stayed hot and hit a jumper and drew a foul, and one! Sandridge made the free-throw, giving WVWC the lead with just twenty-three seconds left in the game. UC missed a jumper and the foul game started. The Bobcat drained their free-throws, giving Charleston only two seconds to tie the game up for OT. Despite their last second effort, UC was unsuccessful. They missed the tying bucket and went onto losing a competitive game 76-73. 
 
Bridget Womber had eighteen points and was just one rebound shy of another double-double in the season. Natalie smith shot an efficient 7-12 in this game leaving her with 16 points on the night. 
 
Up Next 
Your Golden Eagles will return home Saturday to face Davis & Elkins College at 5:30pm here at The Wehrle Innovation Center.