FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Fairmont State used a balanced offensive attack on Saturday afternoon to pick up a 71-58 victory over Shepherd, snapping the Falcons three-game skid.
 
With the win, the Falcons improved to 8-9 overall, including 4-8 in Mountain East Conference play. Shepherd fell to .500 at 9-9 overall on the season (5-7 MEC).
 
Fairmont State opened up a 19-4 advantage at the 3:52 mark of the opening quarter and led wire-to-wore in the victory.
 
Senior Kelli Jo Harrison paced the Falcons with 18 points and six rebounds in the victory. Fairmont State also got 15 points from Brooke Kurucz, 13 from Sierra Kotchman and 12 points and five assists from Ozge Yarga. The Falcons shot 43.6 percent from the field (24-55), and held a 5-0 advantage in three-point field goals on the afternoon.
 
Defensively, the Falcons forced Shepherd into 21 turnovers and held the Rams without a three-point field goal. SU shot just 41.8 percent from the field (23-55).
 
Shepherd had three players reach double-figures in the loss, led by Kari Lankford with 21 points on 8-of-9 from the field. Lankford also pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds. Kayla Tibbs came off the bench to chip in 16 points and nine rebounds and Morgan Arden added 12 in the losing effort. Shepherd held a 37-32 edge on the glass.
 
Fairmont State will now travel to Wheeling Jesuit for a 5:30 p.m. showdown with the Cardinals on Wednesday evening. Fairmont State topped Wheeling Jesuit 55-53 back on Dec. 6 in Fairmont.