ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team was outscored by eight points in the second quarter of a 78-69 loss to Fairmont State Tuesday night in a Mountain East Conference contest inside the Carter Center.
The Mountain Lions (2-6, 1-4 MEC) jumped out to a 22-18 lead through 10 minutes as it shot 45.5 percent to gain the early edge. A balanced attack aided the early scoring as eight players got on the score sheet in the first quarter.
Holding a 25-20 lead just over a minute into the second quarter, Concord went five minutes without scoring, but stayed within striking distance of FSU (6-2, 4-1 MEC). The Maroon and Gray only trailed 31-27 when the lid came off the basket at the 3:09 mark with a jumper from senior forward
Lauryn Avery.
CU settled for the same four-point deficit, 36-32, at halftime.
The Mountain Lions found a spark in the third quarter as it took a 43-42 lead on Fairmont State after a three-point play from junior guard
Jaisah Smith at the 7:12 mark. The Fighting Falcons came back with four straight points before Smith's layup swung the lead back to CU, 47-46, with 5:47 remaining.
Fairmont State took its largest of the game—to that point—57-50 with 1:06 left. However, freshman guard
Hannah Perdue trimmed the deficit to five with two of her six points in the quarter with 22 seconds remaining.
Down nine, 66-57, with 7:59 left, Concord made another push with five straight points, including another three-point play from Smith and an offensive stickback from graduate forward
Alexis Phillips.
But, it was close as the Mountain Lions would get as FSU gained a 72-62 lead with 2:05 remaining.
Smith netted a season-best and game-high 18 points. Perdue and junior guard
Maddie Ratcliff each had eight points. Avery and freshman forward
Abbie Smith finished with six points while the duo combined for 15 rebounds.
Concord travels to Frostburg State 2:00 p.m. Saturday in an MEC contest.
Â
Â
