Fairmont, W. Va. – On Monday, the Wheeling University Women's Basketball team (4-11, 4-7) traveled to Fairmont, West Virginia to make up their game that was supposed to be played back on January 12th. The Cardinals got off to a fast start in the game and were able to hold off a late surge by Fairmont State to win 71-69. It was their fourth Mountain East Conference (MEC) win of the season and their second win in their last three games.

After getting off to slow starts and turning it on in the second half in their last two games, it was Wheeling's turn to get it started hot. Juniors Lauren Calhoun and Jacqui Hinesmon scored on back-to-back buckets to start the game, and Wheeling would go on to score seven of the first nine points of the game. As the first quarter reached the halfway point, Wheeling maintained their five-point lead, and a bucket by Shamia Strayhorn brought the score to 16-7 at the 4:53 mark. However, it was a quarter dominated by offenses and Fairmont State battled back with a 5-0 run at the end of the quarter to make it 21-20 after 10 minutes of play.

It was the most points that the Cardinals have scored in the first quarter of a game this season, but they would have to keep that going to hold off the Falcons. Fairmont took their first lead in the game with a bucket to start the second quarter, but Taylor Cullen quickly took that lead away with a three-pointer that made it 24-22. Neither team would score over the next two minutes, but the two teams would go on to trade buckets and tie the score at 26-26 with just under seven minutes before halftime. Wheeling would take back the lead with a 9-2 run and did not give up the lead for the rest of the half. They went into the break leading 39-33 and scored the most points they have scored in the first half of a game since the calendar turned to 2022.

The Cardinals kept their foot on the gas to start the third quarter with a Shanley Woods three-pointer kicking things off. Wheeling would put together their biggest run of the day, scoring 11 of 13 points over the first five minutes of the quarter to extend their lead to 49-37. Calhoun scored four points during that run and had 18 of her 25 points halfway through the third quarter. Wheeling ended up scoring 18 points in the third and led 56-49 by quarter's end. Freshman Ally Ziegler ended the quarter on a high note for Wheeling, scoring six points over the final minute and a half of the quarter and was leading the Cardinals offensive momentum.

However, the Falcons weren't done as they came storming back in the fourth quarter, scoring a game-high 20 points. Fairmont battled back to make it a seven-point game with under seven minutes to play,  with a Lauren Calhoun layup making the score 63-56. That lead would be shrunk to nothing with three minutes to play, as Fairmont State took the lead 67-66. She is Strayhorn hit a pair of buckets to bring the score to 69-69 with 1:42 to play. Neither team found their shot as the teams combined for three misses over the next three possessions. Laurie Calhoun ended up coming to the free-throw line with 52 seconds to play and sank her two shots to seal the victory 71-69.

Calhoun was a force to be reckoned with on the floor throughout the night, as the MEC's leading scorer put up a team-high 25 points on the night. Freshman Shamia Strayhorn was the only other player in double digits, with 12 points, and Ally Ziegler added a career-high 9 points in the game. On the defensive side of things, Calhoun scored her seventh double-double of the season, leading the way with 21 rebounds in the game. It was the second time this season that Calhoun eclipsed the 20 rebound mark in a game. With a few games coming up against teams below them in the standings, Wheeling is looking to build some momentum here at the end of January.

The Wheeling University Women's Basketball tea is back in action on Wednesday, January 26th, when they take on West Virginia Wesleyan at 5:30 pm.