Postgame Interview

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Fairmont State used lock down defense to advance past the University of Charleston, 71-57, on Saturday afternoon in the first semifinal of the day at the Charleston Civic Center.
 
With the win, Fairmont State (19-11) advances to its first Mountain East Conference Championship Game on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. against Wheeling Jesuit.
 
Although Sunday will be Fairmont's first MEC Championship Game appearance, FSU has advanced to the conference tournament finals for the fourth time in the last ten years, winning all three under head coach Steve McDonald as a former member of the WVIAC.
 
FSU jumped out to a 19-14 lead in the first quarter and stretched its lead to 39-25 at the half after holding the Golden Eagles to just 11 points on 3-of-12 from the field in the second quarter. Then FSU limited UC to just seven points on 2-of-12 shooting in the third quarter to take a commanding 56-32 lead with just 10 minutes remaining in the game.
 
Offensively, the Falcons shot 50 percent from the field, getting a game-high 23 points and seven rebounds from Deidra Combs. Emily Puskarich also chipped in 14 points, four assists and four steals and Amanda Ruffner and Kelli Jo Harrison both dropped in 10. Makenzie White was closing in on a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
 
After drilling a season-high 11 threes in the semifinal round against NDC on Thursday, FSU went just 2-of-10 from three this afternoon.
 
UC (12-19) got a team-high 15 points and six rebounds from Abby Watson. Jordyn Peck, who averaged 18.9 points per game this season, was limited to just nine points on 3-of-18 from the field. UC shot just 33.9 percent from the field (20-of-59).