FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team was unable to hang onto a 34-31 halftime advantage as it dropped a 76-70 contest to nationally-ranked, 21
st-rated Fairmont State Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference game at Joe Retton Arena.
CU (7-4, 4-1 MEC)Â never trailed in the first half, and the game was only tied once, 16-16. The hot start was keyed by Concord shooting 50 percent from the field (7-for-14) in the first quarter as the Maroon and Gray opened up a 16-9 advantage.
The seven-point lead to start the second quarter was met by Fairmont State (8-2, 3-1 MEC) scoring the first seven points in the second. Despite never relinquishing the lead in the second period, Concord was never able to pull away from the Fighting Falcons as the biggest lead of the second quarter was six, 34-28, after a layup from senior forward
Abbie Smith inside the final minute of the first half.
To start the third quarter, Concord maintained a lead of 36-35 after two free throws from Smith at the 7:28 mark of the period. But, the Fighting Falcons went on a 10-2 run grab a 45-38 advantage. A pair of three-pointers by junior guard
Alexis Frazeee were sandwiched around a pair of free from fellow junior guard
Kiley Smich as the Mountain Lions capped a quick 8-0 spurt.
The lead grew to 49-45 with 1:54 remaining, but Fairmont State led 54-53 after three quarters.
FSU grew its lead to 66-55 with 5:46, but the Mountain Lions had one last run. A three-pointer from Frazee and a pair of foul shots from sophomore guard
Kenyah Stubbs got the deficit down to 72-68 with 1:01 left, but it was as close as Concord got.
Frazee finished two points off her career high with 24 points that included a career-best showing from three-point range (6-for-9). Smith tallied 14 points and eight rebounds. Stubbs recorded eight points and four assists.
The Mountain Lions have a two-week break from action before hosting Salem January 3 at the Carter Center.
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