FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The 24th-ranked Fairmont State University women's basketball team battled against the West Virginia State University Yellow Jackets. The Falcons fell to the visitors, 74-66.

Jalen Gibbs led the Falcons with 19 points and nine rebounds. Leslie Huffman also grabbed nine rebounds and added 16 points.

The opening of the contest was even between the two teams as neither side truly grabbed the lead. As Fairmont State (18-4, 12-3) led by a single point (12-11), West Virginia State (10-11, 6-9) went on a 6-1 run to close out the first period. Going to the second, the Yellow Jackets led 17-13.

In the second, the visitors were able to slowly stretch its advantage to 10 (29-19) in the first four minutes. Back-to-back layups from Jalen Gibbs and Zaniya Murray cut the deficit to six but WVSU went back to work on the offensive end. The Yellow Jackets rattled off eight-straight points to go in front, 37-23. At the half, West Virginia State held a 41-26 advantage.

Start of the third period, Jalen Gibbs scored three-straight times down the floor to pull the Falcons within nine (41-32). After a WVSU free throw, the hosts added three more points and were closing the gap between the two teams. However, the Yellow Jackets responded with the next five points to regain a double-digit lead (47-35). The visitors were able to maintain the lead going to the fourth period, 58-48.

Fairmont State attempted to chip away at the deficit and following a 6-0 run late in the period, were only down five (71-66) with 1:21 remaining in regulation. Despite having several chances to continue a late push to tie the game, the Falcons were unsuccessful as they ultimately fell by the eight-point margin.

Fairmont State travels to Wheeling University on Wednesday, February 12 for its next Mountain East Conference contest. Start time is slated for 5:30 p.m.