WISE - - UVa-Wise recorded the first Mountain East Conference win in school history with a 71-67 win over Notre Dame College at the Prior Center on Monday.   Reynesha Archer scored a career-high 20 points and made a career-high three 3-pointers while as a team UVa-Wise made nine 3-pointers in the win.

Notre Dame (2-1, 1-1 MEC) opened the game on a 9-0 run as the visitors held UVa-Wise (4-1, 1-1 MEC) without a point for the first 4:22 of the game.  The Cavaliers got on the board with a 3-pointer by Kenzie Poindexter to halt the early run.  The Falcons held the lead until 6:49 to play in the opening half when Archer capped a 7-0 scoring run with a bucket in the paint.  In the run, UVa-Wise scored three buckets in the paint and Archer added a free throw. 

The remainder of the opening period would feature three lead changes with the Cavs scoring the final three points of the half on a made 3-pointer by Katie Jo Lester to give the host a 27-25 lead. 

UVa-Wise would open an eight point lead nearly five minutes in to the second half as Archer and Makenzie Cluesman each made 3-pointers in the opening moments.  Coach Kristin Kunzman's squad continued to pad its advantage and built its biggest lead of the game, 11 points, with 10:02 to play in the contest. 

Notre Dame would not go away quietly with an 11-2 scoring run to cut the lead to 54-52 with 7:07 to go.  Courtney Clark made back-to-back 3-pointers to force a UVa-Wise timeout.  One possession later, the Falcons timed the game on a jumper by Lauren Langenderfer.  The Cavs would fend off the rally as Poindexter made a three pointer and four consecutive made free throws by Kayla Carey and Cluesman built the lead to five. 

Again, Notre Dame would not go away as the lead was cut to one with 47 seconds to play on a jumper by Martha Nagbe.  UVa-Wise's Taylor Sandidge responded with a layup and the defense forced a turnover.  At that point, the Falcons were forced to foul with just 22 seconds to play, Cluesman made a pair of shots from the foul line to give the Cavs a 70-65 lead.  After a UVa-Wise foul, Clark made two free throws to force the host to make a free throw to seal the contest.  Sandidge did just that as she split a pair of charity shots to give the Cavs the winning margin of 71-67.

UVa-Wise won the game despite being out-rebounded 53-27 in the game.  To counter the rebounding margin, the Cavs out-scored the Falcons by seven at the line and committed nine fewer turnovers.  UVa-Wise also limited Notre Dame to 35.8 percent (24-67) shooting in the game.

Sandidge 14, Poindexter, 11, and Cluesman 10 joined Archer in double-figure scoring.  Carey added a career-high six assists while going a perfect 4-4 from the foul line for the Cavs.

Clark scored a team-high 17 points and Molly Ritz led all players with 11 rebounds for Notre Dame.  Erin Entinghe and Nagbe each added 11 points in the loss.

UVa-Wise will return to play on December 2nd when the University of Pikeville visits the Prior Center.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 pm as the Cavs look for the season sweep over the Bears.