FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Amanda Ruffner matched a career-high with 27 points to lead Fairmont State to 69-54 victory over Clarion to open the season on Friday evening at Joe Retton Arena.
 
Ruffner went 10-of-16 from the field and also pulled down six rebounds and passed out three assists. Makenzie White also chipped in a double-double for the Falcons with 15 points and 11 boards. In addition, Emily Puskarich filled the stat sheet for the Falcons with nine points, seven rebounds, seven assists and seven steals.
 
Both teams struggled from the field on the evening, with FSU shooting just over 35 percent and Clarion making just 32.8 percent of its field-goal attempts. The Golden Eagles, however, held an 11-3 advantage in three-point field goals. The Falcons held a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points, pulling down 17 offensive rebounds in the game.
 
The Falcons were also able to attack the paint with ease, scoring 36 points in the post. FSU also forced 19 turnovers and generated 36 points from them.
 
Fairmont State opened up a 31-17 halftime lead after limiting the Golden Eagles to just six first-quarter points and 19 percent from the field in the opening half. Clarion picked up its offensive game in the second half by shooting 48 percent in the final 20 minutes, trimming Fairmont's margin to as little as six (47-41) at the 1:02 mark of the third.
 
However, FSU pushed their lead back to double-digits and led by as many as 20 in the fourth-quarter before wrapping up the 15-point win.
 
Quorea Pearyer (16) and Tyra Polite (15) each reached double-figure scoring for the Golden Eagles in the loss. Delrika Jones-Carey led Clarion on the glass with 11 rebounds.
 
The Falcons will wrap up play at the MEC/PSAC Challenge tomorrow evening when they host Lock Haven at 5 p.m. inside Joe Retton Arena. Lock Haven also enters Saturday's game with a 1-0 record after defeating Concord on Friday afternoon.