ATHENS, W.Va. — Fairmont State (17-5, 11-4 MEC) fell to Concord (15-7, 10-4 MEC), 89-58, at the Carter Center.
Fairmont State opened the first quarter with a strong defensive showing, highlighted by
Gabby Reep's two free throws at 7:54 that tied the score at 2–2. Despite early offensive struggles, including a 4-of-18 shooting performance, the Falcons managed to stay competitive with points in the paint from
Mackenzie Swayne and
Zaniya Murray, who contributed to a brief 8–6 lead. The Mountain Lions, however, responded with a series of fast-break points, culminating in a 13–0 run late in the quarter. Fairmont State's
Alanna Tate ended the quarter with a jumper, yet they trailed Concord 19–11 at the conclusion.
Fairmont State encountered a challenging stretch in the second quarter as Concord built momentum with efficient shooting, converting 8 of 10 field goals, including four 3-pointers. Despite this, Fairmont State managed to stay competitive through key contributions, such as a 3-pointer by
Hadley Horne with assistance from Murray at 7:34. Reep added a layup and a 3-pointer, contributing to Fairmont State's 14 points in the quarter. However, Concord's continued scoring led them to a 40-25 advantage by the end of the quarter.
Fairmont State faced challenges in the third quarter as Concord extended their lead with a strong 10-0 run, including a key 3-pointer by Kiley Smich at 8:23. Despite struggles, the Falcons saw contributions from Murray with a layup at 5:24 and
Leila Jones hitting a 3-pointer at 5:43 to slightly narrow the gap. However, the Mountain Lions maintained control, closing the quarter with a 26-16 scoring advantage. The third concluded with Concord ahead, 66-41.
Fairmont State aimed to reduce a sizable deficit in the final quarter, beginning with Murray's layup at 6:34. However, Concord's offensive efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc, maintained their lead. Despite Fairmont State's efforts, including a three-pointer from Horne at 3:06 and a fast-break layup by
Amiel Jones at 2:00, they were unable to close the gap significantly. The Mountain Lions capitalized on their shooting to secure the win. The game concluded with a final score of 89-58, with Concord taking the victory.
Murray scored 17 points and recorded two steals. Reep added 14 points and secured four rebounds.
Fairmont State returns home to Joe Retton Arena to face Wheeling University on Wednesday, February 11. Start time is slated for 5:30 p.m.
