WISE, Va. – After a fast start by Fairmont State to grab a nine-point halftime lead, UVa-Wise used a strong second half to rally past the Falcons, 76-61, on Thursday night at the Prior Center.
 
The loss drops Fairmont State to 5-8 overall and 2-5 in the MEC. The Cavs improved to 6-7 overall and 4-3 in the league.

The Falcons led 38-29 at the half, but UVa-Wise stormed back into the game with 29 points in the third quarter to surge ahead 58-55. The Cavs carried that momentum into the fourth quarter by holding Fairmont State to just six points and stretching the final margin to 15.
 
Fairmont State was limited to just eight second half field goals and was outscored 47-23 in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
UVa-Wise shot a blistering 56.7 percent from the field in the second half, including a 4-of-7 performance from behind the arc. Fairmont State managed just 36 percent from the field in the second half.
 
The first half was a completely different story, as the Falcons shot 42 percent from the field and made five 3-pointers to grab a nine-point halftime lead. UVa-Wise shot just 36.7 percent from the field in the opening half and turned the ball over eight times.
 
Sierra Kotchman and Rachel Laskody each dropped in 15 points to lead the Falcons on the evening. Laskody also chipped in a team-high seven rebounds. Kamrin Weimer also finished the game with 11 points, all of which came in the opening 20 minutes of play.
 
Fairmont State had 12 assists in the game, including 11 in the opening half.

Ada Stanley poured in 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting and had six rebounds to pace the Cavaliers. Stanley scored 20 of her points in the second half. Cynita Webb added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. 

The Falcons will now travel to Concord for a 2 p.m. Mountain East Conference matchup with the Mountain Lions on Saturday from the Carter Center.