FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Cardinals led 39:58 of the game Wednesday evening, but it was not enough. Rachel Laskody hit a layup with two seconds left in the women's basketball gave for Fairmont State's only lead of the night to overtake Wheeling Jesuit, 55-53.

After a double figure first-half lead, the Cardinals (2-6/1-4 Mountain East Conference) pushed the margin back to eight points, on a Tori Harrison 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter. WJU pushed the difference back to six points, 53-47, when Lauren Lipscomb laid the ball in at 5:54 left in the contest. The host Falcons (4-4/1-4 MEC) netted the final eight points for the game-deciding run.

Chenelle Moore registered her sixth double-double to lead the Cardinals effort. Moore hit 7 of 12 atempts for 14 points to go with 12 rebounds. She also had four steals and two assists.

Monica Burns added 12 points as the other double-digit point producer. Mariah Callen handed out eight assists, had seven points and three steals. Cassi Stein chipped in six points and eight rebounds.

Harrison downed a season-high eight points off the bench, including 2 for 2 from long-range. Lipscomb finished with six points.

Sierra Kotchman led Fairmont State with 14 points.

The Cardinals raced out to an early 13-5 lead capped by a Moore layup in the opening 4:13. The Falcons pulled back to within a bucket, 16-14, but the visitors put in the final seven points of the first stanza for a 23-14 lead.

WJU pushed the margin to 27-16 on another Moore layup at the 9:00 minute mark of the second quarter. Fairmont State pulled back to three points, 31-28, on a Kotchman triple at halftime.

WJU returns to the McDonough Center and hosts Shepherd on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 9, starting at 2 p.m.
 

-GoCards-