FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Shay Harper's three-pointer with less than 30 seconds left in the game proved to be the decisive points as Alderson Broaddus defeated Fairmont State, 85-79, on Monday night at Joe Retton Arena in the first round of the Mountain East Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.

The late game performance by AB helped the vistors advance to the MEC quarterfinals despite a pair of 20-point scoring performances by Sierra Kotchman and Alyssa DeAngelo. Kotchman finished the game with a team-high 28 points after going 10-of-22 from the field and 2-of-5 from three. Kotchman also had six rebounds and two steals. DeAngelo finished the evening with 22 points after going 9-of-19 from the field.

AB improves to 7-10 on the year and advances to take on Charleston in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 5 p.m. Fairmont State finishes the year at 7-10.

The Battlers led 38-32 at the half, but Kotchman's jumper at the end of the third quarter gave Fairmont State a 61-60 lead with just 10 minutes to play. The game remained close in the fourth quarter and DeAngelo gave the Falcons a two-point lead at 77-75 with under a minute to play. 

Harper then drained the three on the ensuing possession, and the Battlers came up with a stop on defense with a blocked shot. That led Fairmont State to foul, and AB went 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the final seconds to help secure the opening round win.

AB shot 44 percent from the field and held a commanding 53-35 advantage on the glass. The Battlers had 20 offensive rebounds. Fairmont State managed just 37 percent from the field, including just 4-of-16 from three.

Maddy Moyer led the way for AB with 26 points. Celeste Walters recorded a double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds for the Battlers. Carissa Spiker also chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds. 

In addition to Kotchman and DeAngelo's performances, the Falcons also got 10 points and four assists from Madeline Huffman, and eight points and 11 rebounds from Katy Darnell.