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Text Box: NCAA DII WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Charleston, W.Va. Golden Eagles (0-0) at Clarion Golden Eagles (0-0)

Text Box: 2005-06 CLARION SCHEDULE/ RECENT RESULTS DATE OPPONENT TIME/RES. 11/15 CHARLESTON 6 p.m. 11/19 POINT PARK 4 p.m. 11/23 ASHLAND 6 p.m. 11/25 vs. Pitt-Johnstown% Noon 11/26 vs. Glenville St.% Noon 11/27 vs. Gannon% 1 p.m. 12/3 at Bloomsburg 5:30 p.m. 12/7 at Pitt-Johnstown 6 p.m. 12/20 MILLERSVILLE 6 p.m. 12/21 CHEYNEY 6 p.m. %- at IUP Tournament

Text Box: 2005-06 CHARLESTON SCHEDULE/ RECENT RESULTS DATE OPPONENT TIME/RES. 11/15 at Clarion 6 p.m. 11/25 at IUP% 7 p.m. 11/26 vs. California (PA)% 5 p.m. 11/27 vs. West Chester% 3 p.m. 12/3 CONCORD 7 p.m. 12/5 BLUEFIELD ST. 7 p.m. 12/14 at Belmont Abbey 6 p.m. 12/17 LINCOLN MEMORIAL 5:30 p.m. 12/30 vs. Winston-Salem 5:15 p.m. 12/31 SHIPPENSBURG 2 p.m. %- at IUP Tournament

Text Box: ABOUT CHARLESTON CHARLESTON REACHED ELITE 8 IN ‘05 This is the season opener for Charleston, who is coming of a season that saw it go 29-5 last season while advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite 8. The Golden Eagles toppled Clarion in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament 79-57 then beat defending National Champion California in the second round 98-81 before dispatching of host Anderson 88-71 in the Regional Final. Charleston’s season came to an end with a 73-60 loss to Washburn in the Elite 8. EAGLES RANK 3RD IN NATION Coming off the Elite 8 appearance a year ago, the Golden Eagles are ranked 3rd in the nation in the pre-season NCAA D-II Bulletin poll. They are one of 5 teams that Clarion will play this season that are ranked in the Top 25 pre-season poll. The others are California (11th), Glenville St. (19th), Millersville (22nd and Gannon (24th). ALL 5 STARTERS RETURN FROM LAST YEAR All five starters are back for Charleston, who is the pre-season favorite to win the WVIAC. Senior forward Lisa Lee leads the way for the Golden Eagles. Lee, the MVP of the East Region Tournament, was Honorable Mention All-America, 1st team East Region and 1st team WVIAC last year after averaging 19.4 ppg and 8.4 apg. She is on pace to become the leading scorer in school history and currently sits fifth with 1,618 points needing 132 points to tie the school record of 1,750 held by Denise Wentz. Additional returning starters include junior guard Courtney Thomas (14.6 ppg, 4.2 apg), senior guard Laura Kinsler (10.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg), junior forward Rachel Pike (9.5 ppg) and junior guard Erica McElroy (5.7 ppg, 3.7 apg).

Text Box: ABOUT CLARION EAGLES COMING OFF NCAA SEASON This is the season opener for the Golden Eagles, who must replace three starters (Heather Cigich, Shay Godwin, Amelia Harris) and 66 percent of their scoring and rebounding from last year’s team that went 23-7 overall and 10-2 in the PSAC-West. The Golden Eagles advanced to the PSAC Semifinals before losing at Millersville 57-54. Clarion then received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament (East Region at Anderson, SC) where it lost to Charleston in the first round 79-57 (see box score) 3 RETURNEES SET TO LEAD THE WAY Clarion will look to a pair of returning guards and a key reserve forward to lead the way in 2006. Senior Melba Melton, a pre-season PSAC-West All-Conference choice, and sophomore Ashley Grimm were instrumental in shoring up the backcourt in ‘05, while sophomore Jessica Albanese was a key player off the bench before being lost to a season-ending illness late in the year. Melton was named 2nd team PSAC-West after finishing 5th in the conference with 4.73 apg while dishing out 142 helpers, the 3rd most in a season in school history. She added 11.8 ppg and 65 steals. Grimm was 9th in the PSAC in assists per game (4.17) last season while dishing out 125, the 5th most in a season in school history. She added 5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 60 steals. Albanese averaged 6.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg as a freshman. CLARION HAS WON 14 OF 15 AT HOME Clarion has won 14 of its past 15 home games dating back to the 2003-04 season with the only loss being 69-58 to Shippensburg Feb. 7, 2005.