CHARLESTON, W.Va. - - Kiarra Johnson's offensive rebound and put back with 26 seconds to play proved to be the decisive basket as Charleston held off UVa-Wise for a 70-67 Mountain East Conference victory at the Charleston Catholic High School Athletic Complex Tuesday.

Charleston (7-11, 5-7 MEC) built a 20-9 first quarter lead and led by as many as 16 points in the first half before the visitors started their comeback.

Makenzie Cluesman hit a 3-pointer to get UVa-Wise (7-9, 3-9 MEC) within one with 1:34 to play before the junior boarded a miss and raced coast-to-coast to give her club its first lead of the game at 67-66 with 54 seconds remaining.

The lead would be short lived for the Cavalierss as Johnson boarded a 3-point miss by Chyress Lockhart and put the ball back in to put her squad back up one.

Taylor Sandidge would miss a pair of shots late that would have either given UVa-Wise the lead or tied the game. Despite the misses, the Cavs did get one final shot to force overtime. After Lockhart converted just one of two free throws Cluesman put up a last second 3-point attempt that was blocked, preserving the 70-67 victory for the Golden Eagles.

Charleston was on the cusp of putting UVa-Wise away mid-way through the second period.  Olivia Nicholas grabbed a rebound and raced the length of the floor to give the hosts a 32-16 lead with 5:02 to play in the half.

The Cavs would outscore the Golden Eagles 12-6 over the remainder of the half to cut the margin to 38-28a at intermission. Lockhart pushed the lead back to double digits on the half's final play. The guard curled to the bucket, scored and was fouled as the clock expired.  The successful 3-point play attempt was part of a 9-10 showing at the line for the senior.

Coach Kristin Kunzman's UVa-Wise squad would spend the second half reeling in Charleston.  A 6-0 run mid-way through the third period cut the Golden Eagles lead to 44-40 with just under five minutes showing on the third quarter clock.

A quick four points from Lockhart would push the Charleston lead back to seven at 50-43 with 1:59 to play in the quarter. The Cavs put another run together to close the period as a 3-point play by Harding and a Cluesman layup sent the game to the final 10 minutes with the Golden Eagles leading by just two at 50-48.

Charleston would be unable to get more than a two possession lead at any point in the fourth quarter. The Golden Eagles had their largest lead of the period when an Oliva Nicholas' basket made the score 63-57 with under four minutes to play.

UVa-Wise would score the next five points to cut the margin to one before the two schools traded blows over the final minutes of the contest.

The win by Charleston earned them a season-series split with UVa-Wise. The Cavs claimed a 68-60 win in Wise back in November.

Cluesman registered a career-high 23 points and added six boards. Sandidge posted 15 while Harding netted 12 in a losing effort.

Lockhart led Charleston with 17 points, Nicholas finished 7-9 from the field en route to 15 points, Johnson scored 13 points in 26 minutes of work and Mya Walker notched 10 points, four rebounds and three steals.

The Golden Eagles shot 57.1 percent from the field in the opening half and 53.8 percent for the game. Charleston won the battle of the boards 36-22 and used its advantage inside to get to the charity stripe. Collins' team made just 12-19 attempts but Lockhart's nine makes surpassed the eight attempts UVa-Wise had as a team.

The Cavs made nine 3-pointers, including a season-high five by Cluesman. It was the seventh time this season UVa-Wise has fallen by single digits.

A pair of home games awaits the Cavs later this week. Shepherd University visits the Prior Center Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. tip before Fairmont State University comes to town on Saturday.