BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The Fairmont State University women's basketball team faced West Virginia Wesleyan in the final road game of the regular season. Leading by just three points at halftime, the Falcons pulled away for the 72-56 win.

West Virginia Wesleyan (8-16, 5-14) scored the opening basket but Fairmont State (22-5, 15-4) answered with six-straight to lead by four (6-2) with 8:19 on the clock. The Bobcats tried to narrow the margin, but the Falcons maintained control. Madeline Huffman hit a three to put FSU ahead 17-12, unfortunately the lead dissipated as the home side scored the final five points to even the game going to the second.

Like the first, West Virginia Wesleyan made the first two field goals with Fairmont State responding with the next six points. Wesleyan evened the game at 23 but the Falcons had other plans. The team went on a 13-3 run to lead 36-26 with 2:07 remaining in the half. The Bobcats scored the final seven points but still trailed at the half, 36-33.

In the third, Fairmont State scored eight of the opening 10 points to garner a 44-35 advantage. The two sides matched each other for the half of the period as Katy Darnell scored the final basket. As the game headed for the final 10 minutes of regulation, the Falcons led 50-41.

FSU jump started the fourth with six points compared to just two points Wesleyan, the difference handed the visitors a 13-point (56-43) advantage. The Bobcats attempted to chip away at the gap, but they only managed to cut it down to 10. The Falcons went on to win by the 16-point margin.

Darnell paced the team with 23 points with five rebounds and three steals. Alyssa DeAngelo and Jalen Gibbs both finished in double figures with 18 and 17 points, respectively. The team shot 49.2-percent (30-61) from the field with only four turnovers.

Fairmont State faces Frostburg State on Saturday, March 2 for Senior/Alumni Day at Joe Retton Arena. The battle for the one-seed in Mountain East Conference Championship starts at 2:00 p.m.