FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Fairmont State defeated the Blue Knights of Urbana, 80-62, on Thursday night at Joe Retton Arena.
 
After jumping out to a 43-16 lead at the half, the Lady Falcons held off Urbana's comeback attempt to pick up the win and improve to 14-9 overall (11-6 MEC). The Blue Knights fall to 5-15 on the season (3-14 MEC).
 
Emily Puskarich led the Falcons with 22 points, 18 of which came from three-point range. Makenzie White was one assist away from a triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Amanda Ruffner and Deidra Combs also reached double-figures with 14 apiece in the win.
 
Emily Puskarich's six three-pointers moved her into third place in school history in made three-pointers with 230. Puskarich passed Kaitlin Snider to move into the top 3.
 
Morgan Mattimore led Urbana with 21 points in the loss.
 
Fairmont got off to a hot start, opening the game on a 19-4 run in the first eight minutes of the game. At the end of the first quarter, the Lady Falcons led 20-6, allowing just two Urbana field goals in the quarter.
 
The second quarter was much like the first, with Fairmont extending its lead to 31-9 with five minute left in the half. The Falcons went into halftime with a 43-16 advantage, led by Puskarich with 10 points in the half.
 
Despite trailing by as many as 34 (51-17) at the 6:57 mark of the third, Urbana surged to cut Fairmont's lead to single-digits late in the game.
 
With FSU leading 54-22 at the midway point of the third, the Blue Knights went on a 15-0 run to end the third quarter. Fairmont lead had been cut to 54-37 heading into the fourth.
 
After watching their 34-point second half lead dwindle to just nine points (67-58) with 2:49 left in the game, Fairmont closed out the game on an 13-4 run to come away with the victory.
 
The Lady Falcons will be back in action at Joe Retton Arena this Saturday against Notre Dame College. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.