FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University women's basketball team battled Malone University inside Joe Retton Arena. The Falcons were able to outlast the Pioneers, 74-66.
Early in the first period, the two teams traded baskets before Fairmont State went on a 6-0 run with Leslie and
Madeline Huffman combining for four points. The Falcons were able to maintain the lead until Malone responded with a 7-1 run to tie the game at 15 with 3:11 on the clock. Over the final two-plus minutes of the quarter, the Falcons closed out on a 10-2 run to lead 25-17 going to the second. During the final stretch,
Bre Wilson accounted for half of the points.
In the second, FSU stretched the lead to 10 before the Pioneers cut the deficit to two (29-27) at the 5:04-mark.
Aaliyah Brunny hit two free throws but Malone stayed in the fight and ended the first half with a 7-1 run to take the lead, 34-33 going into the halftime locker room.
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Out of the break, both sides found the bottom of the net until
Leslie Huffman scored five-straight points to give Fairmont State a 40-36 edge. Staying in front, the Falcons expanded the lead to 10 (53-43) as
Alyssa DeAngelo and
Aaliyah Brunny combined for seven points during the stretch. The Pioneers made a couple free throws but a DeAngelo free throw followed by a three from
Madeline Huffman allowed FSU to lead 57-47 going to the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Malone came out of the gates in fourth with six-consecutive points to narrow the gap to four (57-53). The visitors remained a couple of baskets behind until the Falcons rattled off seven-straight with a three from DeAngelo. The Pioneers did not blink and came right back with a 7-0 run of their own to make it a six-point game (70-64) with 38 seconds left. However, Fairmont State was able to make its four free throws down the stretch while forcing a couple of turnovers to secure the eight-point win.
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Alyssa DeAngelo led all scorers with 23 points and on the night, eclipsed the 2,000-point mark in her career. She joins only three other Falcons to score 2,000 points in their time at Fairmont State.
Leslie Huffman added 13 points as
Aaliyah Brunny scored 10 points off the bench. The Falcons forced 26 turnovers on the evening and converted those into 38 points.
Fairmont State (4-1) opens Mountain East Conference play on Saturday, November 23 at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
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