BUCKHANNON, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University women's basketball opened the Mountain East Conference schedule against West Virginia Wesleyan College. The Falcons fell to Bobcats, 81-72.

Leslie Huffman led the Falcons with 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Jalen Gibbs added 20 points with six rebounds and six blocks. 

Fairmont State opened the game with the first two points off the hand of Jalen Gibbs. West Virginia Wesleyan scored the next six points to take the lead. The Falcons were able to cut into the lead but the Bobcats stayed in front for the remainder of the first to hold a 19-11 lead.

In the opening moments of the second, FSU scored the first five points with three of them from Leslie Huffman to trail 19-16 with 8:50 left in the half. That was the closest the Falcons were able to get to the lead as the hosts kept expanding the lead and led 38-32 going into the locker room.

Leslie and Madeline Huffman laid in the first two baskets of the third period but once again, West Virginia Wesleyan went back in front by six (43-37). With 3:24 left in the period, the Falcons scored six-straight points to take their first lead of the game, 50-49, as the clock had 1:42 left. The Bobcats notched the final four points to hold a slight lead of three (53-50) going to the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Another Leslie Huffman layup narrowed the difference to one (53-52) but the hosts increased their lead to 10 (66-56) with 5:41 to go. The Falcons were unable to get any closer than six points as they ultimately fell by the nine-point difference.

Fairmont State (4-2, 0-1) hosts Davis & Elkins College on Tuesday, November 26 for its next conference matchup. Start time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.