Box Score Fairmont, W.Va. – The Jesuit Women's Basketball program traveled to Joe Retton Arena on the campus of Fairmont State University Thursday night to take on the Falcons in Mountain East Conference play. Jesuit featured three players who scored in double digits to defeat Fairmont State 68-64, who entered the game ranked #1 in the Mountain East Conference.
 
The first half had the feel of a back and forth title fight. Jesuit led by not more than five points the whole half and took a 29-28 lead into halftime. Fairmont State outshot Jesuit from the field 37.5% to 32.3%. WJU had the advantage from beyond the arc shooting 25% to Fairmont State's 11.1%. The Cardinals committed only three turnovers in the first half.
 
Wheeling Jesuit played tenacious defense in the first 20 minutes, holding Fairmont State's sharp shooters at bay. FSU's Hailey Garrett led the Falcons with 10 points in the first half. The Cardinals were led by junior guard Jaila Bryant, who scored 12 points, pulled down two rebounds, and added one steal and one assist in 17 minutes of play.
 
Jesuit pushed the lead in the second half to 10 points on a Jaana Motton layup in the paint at the 15:42 mark. Fairmont State fought to tie the game 52-52 on two free throws by Deidra Combs with 8:13 left in the game. Coming down the stretch the lead went back and forth with both teams straining to take control of the game. Leading by one point, Jaila Bryant made one of two foul shots, but got her own offensive rebound to maintain possession with :11 left. Breanna Butler was fouled with :06 left and made both free throw attempts to go ahead by four points and eventually win the game 68-64.
 
"Jaila was on the line and we pulled everyone else off the lane. They relaxed and forgot they had to block her out.  She darted in, got her own rebound off her missed foul shot, and it won us the game," added Head Coach Deb Buff.
 
WJU turned in 40 minutes of strong defensive play, matching the intensity they exhibited in the first half. Jesuit held Fairmont State's Emily Pushkarich to just 10 points.
 
On offense, the Cardinals stepped on the throttle in the second half, outshooting the Falcons 54.55% to 31.43% from the field. Jesuit also finished the game with a strong performance in the paint, putting down 32 points, and got 21 points off the bench.
 
Bryant finished the game with 24 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Sophomore forward Jaana Motton had the only double-double of the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Breanna Butler scored 11 points, had five rebounds, and two assists in the victory.
 
"We committed to defense tonight and were rewarded with a huge win against a veteran team. We made the plays we had to down the stretch," stated Coach Buff.