INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- Fairmont State Women's Basketball secured the 73-66 victory at West Virginia State University this evening to improve to 11-6 overall and 9-3 in Mountain East Conference play.

Sierra Kotchman knocked in a three-pointer at the 7:33 mark to give the Fighting Falcons their first lead of the game at 6-5 over the Yellow Jackets. Bre Wilson continued the three-point trend as the Falcons retook the lead at 9-7 with 5:04 remaining in the first period. Fairmont State headed to the second quarter with the 12-9 advantage.

The second quarter proved crucial for the Falcons as the two squads traded baskets early in the quarter before Fairmont State used an 8-0 run to take the 25-16 margin heading to the locker room.

Out of the break, the Yellow Jackets rallied back to cut the lead to 36-35 in favor of Fairmont State. Jalen Gibbs collected a layup inside the paint to slow the run by WVSU at 38-35. The latter stages of the third quarter proved to be all Fairmont State as the Falcons pushed their lead back to eight points at 53-45 after a three-pointer from Alyssa DeAngelo.

In the fourth and final quarter, the Falcons held off the Yellow Jackets and picked up the 73-66 win in Institute as Katy Darnell paced all players with 18 points on the night. DeAngelo followed with 17 points as Kotchman poured in 13 points on 4-8 shooting. Jalen Gibbs had a double-double on the night with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Fighting Falcons shot 51.8% (29-56) from the field and were 9-14 from the free-throw line. For the Yellow Jackets, they shot at a 28.8% (28-80) clip from the floor with 13 makes from the charity stripe. Charity Shears led WVSU with 15 points as Destiny Fields chipped in 13 points on Wednesday night.

Fairmont State (11-6, 9-3 MEC) returns to Joe Retton Arena on Saturday afternoon when the Falcons will host the University of Charleston (9-6, 7-4 MEC). Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Dan Cava Court inside Joe Retton Arena.