BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Fairmont State University (19-8, 12-7 MEC) fell to West Virginia Wesleyan (17-6, 14-5 MEC), 82-57, at Rockefeller Center on Wednesday. The Falcons capitalized on turnovers, scoring 22 points off 20 turnovers by the Bobcats.

Fairmont State opened the first quarter with a strong start, initiating the scoring with a jumper from Ryan Davis at 9:39, assisted by Zaniya Murray. The visitors maintained control early, with Gabby Reep scoring a layup shortly after. The Falcons capitalized on efficient shooting, connecting on 8 of 13 basket attempts and scoring 12 points in the paint. Alanna Tate and Hadley Horne expanded the lead with layups, and Horne added an and-one play at 3:38. By the end of the quarter, the Falcons led 20–12 over the Bobcats.

The Falcons started the second quarter with a strong defensive effort, highlighted by Haylen Cook's fast-break layup at 7:43, stemming from a turnover by the Bobcats. Leila Jones added momentum with a 3-pointer at 6:52, extending Fairmont State's lead. However, the Bobcats closed the gap with a steady offensive push, tying the game at 28–28 by the quarter's end.

The Falcons started the third quarter with a 3-pointer from Alanna Tate at 9:19, assisted by Gabby Reep, which helped them briefly take the lead. Despite their efforts, including a strong defensive presence with three steals, the Falcons faced a back-and-forth battle with the Bobcats, leading to multiple ties and lead changes throughout the quarter. In the closing moments, Reep added a layup at 0:57 to narrow the gap to one point, but the Bobcats responded to secure a slight edge. The quarter concluded with Fairmont State trailing 48-45 heading into the final quarter.

The Falcons struggled to find momentum in the fourth quarter against the Bobcats. Reep made a layup and a free throw at the 7:00 mark. Despite the efforts, the Falcons' defense was unable to contain the Bobcats, which capitalized with 34 points in the quarter. The game concluded with the Bobcats securing an 82–57 victory.

Alanna Tate led the Falcons with 14 points, converting 5 of 9 field goals, including a successful 3-pointer. Gabby Reep finished with 11 points, three steals, and three assists. Zaniya Murray added eight points while grabbing five rebounds. Hadley Horne finished with nine points and collected three rebounds.

Fairmont State concludes the regular season on Saturday, February 28 as Frostburg State University makes the trip to campus. Start time is set for 2:00 p.m. with Senior Day activities to precede the game. 

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