FAIRMONT, W.Va. – West Virginia State got past Fairmont State, 77-71, on Saturday afternoon inside Joe Retton Arena, snapping the Falcon three-game winning streak.
 
Sierra Kotchman set the Fairmont State freshman record for points in a single season on Saturday afternoon, scoring 24 points in the game to push her season total to 476. The previous program record was set by Lori Smith (466) back in 1990. Kotchman has now scored 20 points or more 13 times this season.
 
Following the loss, Fairmont State falls into a three-way tie for sixth place in the Mountain East Conference standings with a 14-12 overall record and 9-11 mark in league play. WVSU sits in sole possession of fourth place with an 11-15 overall record (11-9 MEC).
 
The teams traded leads and ties for a majority of the opening half, thanks in large part to Kotchman's 18-point first half.
 
However, WV State broke open the close game late in the second quarter and grabbed its largest lead of the day at the 3:03 mark of the third quarter (56-42) following a three by Alexandra Jackson.
 
With WVSU still leading by 10 with just 3:53 remaining in the fourth (68-58), the Falcons got back into the game with an 8-0 in less than 90 seconds. The run was paced by a three-point play by Kelli Jo Harrison and a three from Sierra Kotchman. However, WV State answered the run with a pair of free throws by Jackson and a three by Amari Grace on back-to-back possessions.
 
The Falcons cut the lead to a single-possession one more time with just :21 seconds remaining (74-71), following a three by Brooke Kurucz, but the Yellow Jackets converted from the free throw line late in the game to grab the win.
 
WVSU shot 43 percent from the field (25-of-58) and scored 21 points off turnovers in the victory. FSU was limited to just 36.7 percent from the field (22-of-60).
 
In addition to Kotchman's offensive performance, the Falcons also go 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals from Brooke Kurucz and 11 points and eight rebounds from senior Kelli Jo Harrison – who was honored following the game as the lone senior for the FSU women's basketball team. Rachel Laskody also chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds.
 
Shae Hines led the Yellow Jackets with 24 points and seven assists in the victory. Jackson also chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds, and Grace chipped in 12 points and five rebounds coming off the bench.
 
Fairmont State will now play its final two regular season games on the road, starting with a 5:30 p.m. matchup at West Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday evening.