FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Deidra Combs scored a career-high 24 points to lead Fairmont State past West Virginia State, 63-60, on Thursday evening at Joe Retton Arena.
 
The win snaps Fairmont State's five-game losing streak and the Falcons improve to 16-9 overall and 10-9 in the Mountain East Conference. The Yellow Jackets fall to 12-13 overall and 9-10 in the league.
 
The Falcons took the lead for good at the 1:20 mark of the third quarter and led by as many as nine in the fourth before holding-off the Yellow Jackets for the 63-60 win.
 
In the opening half, the teams battled in a defensive struggle with FSU going to the locker room with a 23-20 advantage following a three by Combs with under 30 second to go before the half.
 
FSU outshot West Virginia State 40.4-37.7 percent and turned the ball over just nine times in the win. WV State held a 9-4 advantage in three-point field goals.
 
Deidra Combs led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Combs also added six rebounds, four steals and two assists. Emily Puskarich had 12 points and Gabrielle Etter added 11 for FSU. Katie Nunan led the Falcons on the glass with 10 rebounds.
 
West Virginia State was led by 18 points from Rachel Ward. Deyahnna Styles finished 12 points to go with six assists and Shealyn Shafer led State on the glass with nine rebounds.
 
The Falcons will remain home on Saturday afternoon when the University of Charleston comes to town for a 2 p.m. tip.