FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team was unable to overcome a 29-point second quarter from Fairmont State as it fell, 93-84, Wednesday night in a Mountain East Conference game at Joe Retton Arena.
The Mountain Lions (5-3, 2-3 MEC) finished the first quarter on an 11-2 run to grab a 21-18 lead after 10 minutes. With Concord up 23-20 a minute into the second, Fairmont State (6-2, 5-0 MEC) went on an 11-0 run.
cut the eight-point deficit back to 37-33 after a layup from sophomore forward
Kyndra Pilant with 2:57 left in the first half, but the Fighting Falcons held off the second-quarter surge to take a 46-37 lead into halftime.
Concord came out of the locker room charged up as it started the third quarter on an 8-0 run, capped by sophomore guard
Jaisah Smith's layup at the 7:52 mark of the third quarter. But, FSU opened the margin back up to nine points four minutes later, and still led 63-59 after three quarters.
Early in the fourth, the Maroon and Gray trimmed the Fairmont State advantage to two points twice, and after a Smith layup at the 4:46 mark of the fourth quarter was only down 75-72. However, it was the closest CU would get down the stretch as the Fighting Falcons regained the advantage it had at halftime.
Smith netted a career-best 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting. She also tied for the team lead in rebounds. Fifth-year senior forward
Riley Fitzwater had 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting, but was reduced to 23 minutes because of foul trouble.
guard
Jazz Blankenship rattled in four three-pointers as part of her 15 points. And senior guard
Maggie Guynn had six points and eight rebounds.
CU shot 48.5 percent from the field (33-for-68) and totaled 20 assists, but was unable to overcome 18 turnovers.
The Mountain Lions host Frostburg State 12:00 p.m. Sunday.
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