FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont State (19-7) defeated Salem (3-22), 66-48, at Joe Retton Arena, forcing 35 turnovers and scoring 32 points off those turnovers.
Ryan Davis opened scoring for the Falcons with a layup at 9:49, assisted by
Alanna Tate. Midway through the quarter, the Falcons gained momentum with a 6-point stretch, highlighted by
Mackenzie Swayne's layup at 6:58 and
Zaniya Murray's 3-pointer at 4:56. Despite multiple turnovers from both teams, the Falcons maintained their lead. The quarter concluded with the Falcons leading 15-11.
Fairmont State extended its lead early in the second quarter with a 9–4 run, highlighted by a layup and free throw from
Leila Jones at 09:16 and a three-pointer assisted by
Gabby Reep at 07:05. Despite a late push from the Tigers to narrow the gap, the Falcons maintained their advantage, concluding the quarter with a 27–26 lead.
Fairmont State seized control in the third quarter, igniting a pivotal run with
Leila Jones's 3-pointer at 9:40, assisted by
Gabby Reep, to extend its lead. Reep further contributed with a steal and a layup, propelling the home team ahead. The advantage continued to grow as
Hadley Horne added a 3-pointer at 6:05. By the end of the third, the Falcons held a 46-35 lead over the Tigers.
Fairmont State maintained its lead in the final quarter, starting with
Zaniya Murray's layup at 9:15.
Alanna Tate added a jumper shortly after, extending the margin. The Falcons capitalized on the Tigers' turnovers and fouls, with key free throws from
Gabby Reep and
Leila Jones in the middle of the quarter. A critical three-pointer by Reep at 5:01 helped solidify the lead. The Falcons secured the game with effective rebounding and a series of free throws, concluding the quarter with a 20–13 advantage. The game ended with the Falcons winning 66–48.
Gabby Reep recorded 11 points and collected seven rebounds with three steals.
Zaniya Murray also scored 11 points and added five steals.
Alanna Tate led the scoring with 13 points and recorded three assists.
Fairmont State plays its final road game of the regular season to face West Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday, February 25. Start time is set for 5:30 p.m.
