FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Fairmont State couldn't recover from a slow start in an 84-71 setback against Seton Hill on Friday afternoon at Joe Retton Arena on the opening day of the MEC/PSAC Challenge.
 
Seton Hill opened up a 27-12 lead after one quarter of play and led 49-27 at the half after limiting Fairmont State to just 10-of-26 from the field and 0-of-7 from three in the opening half. Meanwhile, SHU shot 48 percent in the opening half, including a 5-of-8 performance from behind the arc.
 
In the second half, Fairmont State outscored Seton Hill 30-17 in the third quarter of play and trimmed the Griffins lead to just seven (64-57) with 16 seconds remaining in the period. However, that was as close as Fairmont got in the second half of play as Seton Hill led by double-figures for most of the fourth quarter before closing out the 84-71 win.
 
Fairmont State had four double-figure scorers in the setback, led by Sierra Kotchman with 16 points on 7-of-14 from the field. Brooke Kurucz (13), Kamrin Weimer (11) and Rachel Laskody (10) also reached double figures for the Falcons.
 
Kurucz also grabbed five rebounds and Ozge Yarga passed out a team-high four assists.
 
Fairmont State made just 2-of-14 attempts from behind the arc.
 
Cheyenne Trest recorded a game-high 19 points and Courtney Cecere added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebound to lead the Griffins.
 
The Falcons will return to action on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Lock Haven on day two of the MEC/PSAC Challenge. Lock Haven rallied from a 14-point second half deficit to pick up a 73-66 victory over Concord on Friday afternoon in the first game of the day at Joe Retton Arena.