INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University women's basketball team hit the road to face the West Virginia State University Yellow Jackets. The Falcons held a double-digit at the half, even though the Yellow Jackets made a second half charge, the Falcons were able to hold on for a 76-72 win.

Alyssa DeAngelo led all scorers with 23 points as she grabbed five rebounds and assisted on four baskets. Jalen Gibbs added 21 points with nine rebounds while Leslie Huffman finished the evening with 17 points and eight boards.

In the first period, Fairmont State jumped out to an early 9-0 lead with two layups from Jalen Gibbs. West Virginia State responded with the next six points to narrow the difference to three (9-6) with 4:49 left. The Falcons wasted little time and came back with a 10-0 run as Alyssa DeAngelo accounted for half of the points. The Yellow Jackets scored the next five but a late three by Leslie Huffman gave FSU a 22-11 advantage going to the second. 

The two sides traded baskets to open the second before Fairmont State rattled off nine-straight. Leading 33-15, the Falcons expanded their to 22 (39-17) with back-to-back threes from Aaliyah Brunny and DeAngelo. West Virginia State made two threes of its own but Zaniya Murray buried one from behind the arc before DeAngelo drained another three before the half. At the break, FSU led 45-23 going to the locker room.

Out of the locker room, both teams matched one another until the Yellow Jackets used a 7-2 to narrow the lead to 16 (51-35) with just over six minutes left in the third. Five-straight points by DeAngelo grew the lead back to 21 but another run by the hosts (9-0) set the score at 56-44 with 2:44 on the clock. The 12-point difference remained at the end of the period as the Falcons led 64-52.

In fourth, the hosts continued to slowly chip away at the deficit but midway through, FSU remained in front by 12 (70-58). WVSU did not go away and out of the media timeout, it went on a 9-1 run to trail 71-67 with 3:09 left in regulation. Jalen Gibbs made two free throws but the Yellow Jackets were not done and scored the next five points to trail only one (73-72) with just 35 seconds to go. Two turnovers proved costly for West Virginia State as it was forced to foul with the Falcons making three of their four free throw attempts to secure the four-point victory.

Fairmont State (6-2, 2-1) returns home to face the University of Charleston on Saturday, December 7. Fans make sure to wear white as it is a "White Out" game with a rally towel giveaway. Start time is slated for 2:00 p.m.