NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- Fairmont State outlasted Walsh, 77-73, for a key non-conference road victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday evening at Alumni Arena.
 
Fairmont State (3-0) grabbed its largest lead of the game at the 5:26 mark of the third quarter (51-41) and didn't trail the rest of the evening. Brooke Kurucz scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half to help the Falcons hold on for the win. Kurucz finished the evening with a 12-of-12 performance from the free throw line.
 
The Falcons also got 20 points from Sierra Kotchman (11 in the first half), 17 points and seven rebounds from Kelli Jo Harrison and 10 from Ozge Yarga.
 
The Falcons shot 49.1 percent from the field (26-of-53), including a blistering 71 percent in the second quarter to help the Falcons rally from a double-digit Walsh lead in the opening quarter (23-12).
 
The Falcons were very efficient from behind the arc (9-of-20) and from the free throw line (16-of-21) in the win.
 
Walsh (1-2) got a team-high 16 points from Emily Westphal, and 12 apiece from Alex Hochstedler and Allison Butler. Walsh shot 44 percent from the field.
 
FSU will now prepare for its Mountain East Conference opener on Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. against the University of Charleston.