UU splits with Charleston

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After a week off, the Urbana University women’s basketball team cruised to its first Mountain East Conference win in a 97-81 triumph over Charleston inside the Grimes Center Thursday night.

Sophomore guard Danie Shafer continued to light up the nets with a career-high 32 points, which was one more than her total the last time she took the floor against No. 21 West Liberty. Shafer, who entered the game ranked fourth in the MEC with 19.0 points per game, drained a career-high five 3-pointers and went a perfect 9 of 9 from the free-throw line.

UU (2-2, 1-2 MEC) dominated the second and third quarters, outscoring Charleston by a combined 52-30 over that span.

The Blue Knights shot 43.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range. UC shot a decent 49.5 percent overall, but UU limited the visitors to only 5-of-20 (25 percent) shooting on 3-pointers.

UU faced a 10-0 deficit to open the game, but battled back to end the first quarter down 21-16.

The Blue Knights skated out to their largest lead of the first half just before the buzzer, as Stefanie Davis recorded a steal and fast-break layup to put UU ahead 38-32 at the break.

UU took advantage of 16 UC turnovers by converting 21 fast-break points, including 15 of those during the first 20 minutes.

Senior guard Kennedy Boggs posted a season-high 18 points and dished out a team-high eight assists. Freshman guard Megan Beachy also reached double figures with 15 points, while shooting 4 of 10 from three-point range.

Sophomore forward Jazmyn Haley led the Blue Knights on the glass with eight rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench. Freshman Erin Morrow made her debut in the Grimes Center after missing time due to injury, and the forward chipped in with eight points and four rebounds.

UC’s Chyress Lockhart, the leading scorer for the Golden Eagles, fouled out with over five minutes left. She led four players in double digits with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

Both teams scored 29 points in the final quarter, while UC held the slight rebounding edge at 39-34. The Blue Knights also overcame a 40-26 deficit on points in the paint.

Thursday’s win is the first victory over Charleston for the Blue Knight women’s hoops squad since Jan. 11, 2014.

UU returns to action on Saturday, when it hosts West Virginia State at 2 p.m. inside the Grimes Center.

UU men fall to UC

Visiting Charleston rallied to beat UU, 91-89, in the men’s basketball game Thursday night.

Charleston trailed, 49-36, at the half, but shot 68 percent from the field in the second half.

UU was paced by Carlas Jackson, who scored a career-high 29 points.

The Blue Knights (1-7) host West Virginia State on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Urbana University’s Jazmyn Haley (in white) shoots through contact against Charleston on Thursday.
https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2015/12/web1_Haley120315.jpgUrbana University’s Jazmyn Haley (in white) shoots through contact against Charleston on Thursday.

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