FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Charleston knocked down nine three-pointers and shot 42 percent in the second half to edge Fairmont State, 55-52, on Thursday evening at Joe Retton Arena. UC shot just 28 percent from the field in the opening half.

The Falcons fall to 6-2 overall and 1-2 in the Mountain East Conference. Charleston improves to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the league.

Despite shooting 46 percent from the field, the Falcons failed to make a three-pointer in the game and were out-rebounded, 39-36. The Falcons had three possession in the final 1:44 of the game with a chance to tie the game, but a pair of turnovers and a missed three in the final seconds allowed the Golden Eagles to hold off the Falcons. The scored was tied five times and the lead changed 12 times in the game.

Hailey Garrett recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Falcons. Hallie Gunnoe also chipped in 12 points and four assists while Emily Lohr scored 11. Gabrielle Etter had a team-high five assists.

Nichole Perry led the Golden Eagles with 18 points and LeAnne Ross chipped in 12 after knocking down four three-pointers. UC was led on the glass by Kiara Johnson with nine rebounds.

Although FSU was edged on the glass, the Falcons held a 42-20 advantage scoring in the paint.

The game was tied four times and there were nine lead changes in the first half of the game, with the largest lead by either team being just four points. Garrett helped the Falcons take a slim 26-25 advantage to the locker room by scoring 12 points and pulling down seven rebounds in the opening half. UC struggled from the field in the first half, shooting just 28 percent. However, Charleston knocked down five three-pointers and were led by 10 points from Perry.

In the second half, UC went on a 16-5 run early and opened up their largest lead at 41-31 with 14:07 to play. The run was capped by a three from DeJanique Reddix. The Falcons quickly responded with an 8-0 run, led by six points from Lohr, to cut the margin to 41-39 at the 10:29 mark.

The lead was no larger than six the rest of the way for UC as the teams battled down the stretch. At the 2:07 mark, Monet Saunders pulled down an offensive rebound and tipped-in the bucket to give Charleston a 54-50 lead. On the following possession, Garrett cut the lead in half with a layup and the Falcons got a stop at the opposite end after a missed three-pointer by Ross. However, the Falcons turned the ball over at the opposite end and UC took a timeout.

On the next two possessions the teams traded turnovers and the Falcons were forced to foul with nine seconds remaining. Perry went 1-of-2 from the line and the Falcons had one more opportunity to hit a game-tying three but Amanda Ruffner's three from the corner hit the side of the rim and the Golden Eagles survived, 55-52.

The Falcons will look to rebound on Saturday afternoon when they travel to West Virginia State for a 2 p.m. tip.