WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Alyssa DeAngelo finished two points shy of her career high with 32 points as the Fairmont State women's basketball team (20-8, 14-6 Mountain East Conference) earned a 91-85 road win at West Liberty (15-11, 13-7 MEC) on Saturday (Feb. 18) at the ASRC in West Liberty, W.Va.
 
"Our team is playing the way we want them to play," said Fairmont State head coach Stephanie Anderson. "They're playing hard night in and night out and we are very proud of them."
 
DeAngelo was 11-of-22 shooting and was perfect from the free throw line (8-for-8). She made two shots from beyond the arc and added two assists and two steals. Jertaya Hall scored 16 points and Madeline Huffman netted 13, including three from deep. Aaliyah Brunny finished with 11 points and Katy Darnell was one point and one rebound shy of a double-double (9 points, 9 rebounds).
 
"I felt relaxed even before we tipped the ball today," said DeAngelo. "I had confidence in my team and I knew they would have my back no matter what today."
 
With the Falcons trailing 18-14 late in the first quarter, Madeline Huffman knocked down a pair of triples in the last minute of action to put Fairmont State ahead 20-18 at the end of the first quarter. DeAngelo and Brunny opened the second quarter with layups to complete the Falcons' 10-0 run. DeAngelo and Hall both knocked down triples and the Fairmont State lead increased to nine points. The Hilltoppers trimmed the Fairmont State lead to three points with less than a minute to go. Madeline Huffman knocked down her third three-pointer of the half before the clock expired and the Falcons led by six points at the half.
 
"I looked up and saw six seconds left, so I wanted to get a shot off, and I was glad it went through the basket," said Huffman.
 
The Falcons maintained the lead through the early stages of the third quarter. DeAngelo sank a pair of free throws and Hall finished a layup at the rim and Fairmont State brought their lead back to six points midway through the third. The Hilltoppers scored six unanswered to tie the score at 55 with 4:24 left. Fairmont State went back up by two possessions following layups from Darnell and Brunny. After a West Liberty three-pointer, DeAngelo scored a layup and a three-point play to put Fairmont State up by six points. The Hilltoppers managed to cut the Fairmont State lead to four points at the end of the third quarter.

WLU began the fourth quarter on a 7-1 run and grabbed its first lead of the second half. Hall and DeAngelo responded with layups and the Falcons led 72-70 at 6:24 in the fourth. After the 'Toppers drilled a three to go back in the lead, Hall knocked down a three-pointer and a layup that increased the FSU lead to 76-75. The two teams exchanged the lead five times in the final five minutes. The Falcons went on a key 6-0 run that featured a layup from Leslie Huffman, a jumper from Hall and two free throws from DeAngelo that put the Falcons up four points with 1:08 to go. The Hilltoppers managed to trim the lead to two points in the final minute. DeAngelo and Darnell each sank two free throws to seal the 20^th win for Fairmont State.
 
The Fighting Falcons are back in Fairmont on Wednesday (Feb. 22) at 5:30 p.m. versus West Virginia Wesleyan.