URBANA, Ohio - - UVa-Wise limited Urbana University to just 11 made field goals and 23.9 percent shooting as coach Kristin Kunzman's team posted a 51-39 win in the Mountain East Conference opener for both schools on Saturday. 

Urbana (0-3, 0-1 MEC) scored the first two points of the game as Tori Purk sank a pair of free throws after rebounding a miss by Kate Francisco. 

UVa-Wise (1-2, 1-0 MEC) responded with 14-4 run as Blair Harding scored all 10 of her points in the run. The Baltimore, Maryland native scored the first 10 points of the game for the Cavaliers.

UVa-Wise would lead by as many as 11 points in the first half before Urbana scored the last two points of the half to send the game to halftime with the Cavs leading 28-19.

Urbana made just five first half shots but was able to keep the game within single digits thanks to eight made free throws.

The defensive intensity kicked up a notch for UVa-Wise in the second half.  The Cavaliers would hold the Blue Knights scoreless for the first 4:01 of the second half. Urbana would then go on a second extended scoring drought as the hosts failed to score for 4:57. 

By the time Blue Knights scored with 10:38 to play, the Cavs had built a 38-24 lead.  UVa-Wise would lead by as many 16 points in the half before a 7-0 run cut the lead to nine at 40-31.

Senior Katie Jo Dockery quickly ended any Urbana threat by draining a 3-pointer off a Makenzie Cluesman pass. UVa-Wise would lead by 10 or more points for the remainder of the contest.

Taylor Sandidge led UVa-Wise with 13 points.  The sophomore also grabbed five rebounds.  Harding corralled seven boards and handed out two assists in addition to her 10 points. 

Kayla Carey scored seven points but her defensive effort may have been the difference in the game. Spending most of the game on Francisco, who entered as Urbana's leading scorer, she limited the post player to 1-14 shooting and a season-low four points.

UVa-Wise forced 22 Urbana turnovers and turned the miscues in to 21 points on the offensive end. Five different Cavs registered two offensive rebounds as the visitors tallied 14 total offensive boards and won the battle of the glass 43-42 overall.

Purk was the only Blue Knight to score in double-figures; she finished with 12 points on 5-9 shooting.

The 39 points are the fewest by a UVa-Wise opponent since the Cavs limited Milligan College to 38 points in a 60-38 win in 2012.

The Cavs will look to start MEC play 2-0 on Monday when the team visits Notre Dame College. UVa-Wise defeated the Falcons in the opening round of last season's MEC Tournament. Tip-off is set for 4 pm from South Euclid, Ohio.