The Fairmont State women's basketball team prepares for a road game at Wheeling on Wednesday (Jan. 11). Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
 

Fighting Falcons Facts

• Last week, Fairmont State defeated Alderson Broaddus at home before earning a 70-56 road win over Notre Dame (Ohio). Saturday's win was Fairmont State's first win in South Euclid since February 2019.
• The Fighting Falcons are 10-4 overall and a 6-2 MEC record. Fairmont State checked in at No. 7 in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Regional rankings released on Jan. 9.
• Through 14 games, Fairmont State has scored an average of 79.0 points per game, which is the ninth-highest rate in NCAA Division II.
• The Fighting Falcons continue to shoot well at the charity stripe. Fairmont State makes an average of 20.64 free throws per game, which is the highest average in the country. The Fighting Falcons also top the nation in free throw attempts per game (28.93). Katy Darnell and Alyssa DeAngelo both rank in the top 25 of made free throws in the country and have converted a combined 144 free throws.
• DeAngelo scored 25 points in the team's win at Notre Dame (Ohio) on Saturday. DeAngelo has finished with 20 or more points in seven games this season. Her scoring average of 19.5 points per game ranks 16^th in the country. The Jefferson Hills, Pa. native is 50 points shy of 1,000 career points.
• Darnell has been picked as MEC Player of the Week twice this season. Darnell's 16.1 points per game is the ninth-highest mark in the MEC. Darnell is ranked sixth in the MEC with 28 steals and averages 7.8 rebounds per game, which is the eighth-highest average in the league.
• Jalen Gibbs scored a season-high 19 points in Saturday's match at NDC. Gibbs grabbed a career-high 17 boards and finished with her third double-double of the season. The power forward has averaged 10.7 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per contest. Her 17 blocks lead the team.
• Charleston, W.Va. native Jertaya Hall has posted a 10.5 ppg scoring average and has collected 20 steals on the defensive end of the floor. Darnell (28), Gibbs (22) and Hall all have 20 or more steals.
• Point guard Madeline Huffman has dished out 41 assists, which leads the Falcons. Huffman has chalked up at least one assist in every contest this season. The junior from Marietta, Ohio has reached double figures in five games this season, including a 12-point performance on Wednesday (Jan. 4) versus Alderson Broaddus.
• Aaliyah Brunny has averaged 6.7 points per game off the bench. Brunny scored a season-high 14 points in Fairmont State's win at Concord on Dec. 6.
• Graduate student Gracey Lamm has the highest assist/turnover ratio on the team. Lamm has distributed 20 assists while only committing 14 turnovers.
• Head Coach Stephanie Anderson is in her fourth season at the helm of Fairmont State women's basketball. Anderson has won 47 games during her time leading the Fighting Falcons.

 
Scouting Wheeling
The Cardinals sit in a tie for fifth place after eight MEC contests. Wheeling is 7-7 overall and 5-3 in conference competition. Last time out, the Cardinals cruised to a 93-52 win over Concord, and four Cardinals (Lauren Calhoun, Graci Fairman, Shamia Strayhorn and Jacqui Hinesmon) all scored in double figures.
 
Wheeling's defense has allowed an average of 65.3 points per game, which is the second-best mark in the MEC. The Cardinals have held opponents to shoot 36.8% from the field and have forced 101 steals. Calhoun checks in seventh on the MEC scoring leaderboard and averages 17.9 points per game. The Ravenna, Ohio native is Wheeling's rebounding leader and has hauled in 11.1 boards per game, which is the best average in the MEC. Kenzie Dalton has passed 61 assists, which is the second-highest total in the conference.
 
The Cardinals are led by Anna Kowalska, who is in her first season in charge of Wheeling women's basketball. Kowalska was previously the head coach at Life University and has held experience at WVU Tech and Kent State.
 
Up Next
Fairmont State returns to Joe Retton Arena on Saturday (Jan. 14) at 2 p.m. for a marquee matchup versus the Hilltoppers of West Liberty.