FAIRMONT, W.Va. (Feb. 13) – Behind a career-high 36 points by junior forward Lilly Ritz (Cambridge, Ohio/Cambridge), the Cardinals got back to their winning ways with an 87-82 win at Fairmont State Saturday afternoon inside the Joe Retton Arena.
 
The Cardinals improve to 6-6 overall, while the Falcons drop to 3-8 this season.
 
Ritz converted 16 of 18 field goal attempts and hauled in 12 rebounds to lead the way. The 2020 All-American also chipped in a trio of blocks in the win.
 
Sophomore Emily Holzopfel (Rayland, Ohio/Buckeye Local) posted a season-high with 18 points, while classmate Maura Castelluci (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) added 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from long range.
 
A layup by Ritz gave the Cardinals an 11-5 lead three minutes into the contest. The Falcons managed to close the gap to two, but the Cardinals outscored Fairmont State 12-6 during the final five minutes of the first quarter to hold a 23-17 advantage.
 
The Falcons closed the gap to 27-26 with 5:57 remaining in the first half. Baskets by Ritz and Holzopfel helped rebuild the lead to five, before the Cardinals headed into the locker rooms with a 39-36 lead at halftime.
 
Wheeling maintained the lead through the majority of the third quarter, however Fairmont State finally managed to knot the score up with 31 seconds left in the period at 55-55. 
 
The score was tied at 57-57 when the Cardinals took command of the contest. Wheeling out-scored Fairmont State 16-7 over the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter to pull out to a 73-64 lead. Fairmont State started to make three-point shots down the stretch to make the score closer, but the Cardinals amassed a big enough lead to claim the victory.
 
Fairmont State's Sierra Kotchman scored a game-high 38 points and converted 7-of-15 from beyond-the-arc in the loss.
 
After playing seven games in 14 days, the Cardinals finally get some time off. Wheeling will return to play on February 17 to welcome Frostburg State to the McDonough Center for a tip at 5 p.m.