WISE - - UVa-Wise used a trio of solid performances to overcome a 51-46 deficit with 9:19 to play to post its third consecutive Mountain East Conference victory, a 70-60 decision over West Virginia Wesleyan on Thursday. 

UVa-Wise (3-3, 3-0 MEC) built a 32-23 halftime advantage as Blair Harding scored 11 of her career-high 22 points in the half. The Cavalier defense limited the Bobcats to just 28.1 percent shooting in the half and forced 11 first half turnovers. Adrian Cunningham matched Harding with 11 points to keep West Virginia Wesleyan within striking distance.

Wesleyan (0-5, 0-3 MEC) fell behind by 10 points with 14:19 to go as Kayla Carey made a pair of foul shots to put UVa-Wise in front 42-32.  From that point, the Bobcats went on a 19-4 run to take a 51-46 lead.  The run required a complete team effort as six different players scored during the stretch.

Playing in its home opener, UVa-Wise used a spirited student section to regain the lead and claim the victory.  Four consecutive free throws by Taylor Sandidge cut the lead to one before Allison Ball picked off an errant Allie Browne pass and raced to the other end of the floor for a layup. It would be Ball's only two points of the game but it would prove to be the bucket that turned the tide.

Wesleyan would not lead again as UVa-Wise would post an 11-1 run to claim a 57-52 margin. Kristin Kunzman's team would lead by as many 13 points in the second half before eventually claiming the 10 point victory.

Carey corralled a career-high 11 rebounds while Sandidge scored a season-best 20 points. Ball added six rebounds while Kehanna Grayer scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in the win.

The Bobcats shot just 35.9 percent from the field in suffering their 27th consecutive defeat. Three Wesleyan players scored in double figures led by Mari Stewart who posted a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Cunningham finished with 13 points and Browne netted 11 points while dishing out seven assists.

UVa-Wise will try to improve to 4-0 in MEC play on Saturday when the team visits Glenville State for a 2 pm tip-off.