SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio - - Number 10 seed UVa-Wise upended number seven seed Notre Dame College 81-67 in the opening round of the inaugural Mountain East Conference women's basketball tournament Tuesday night.  Five Cavaliers scored in double-figures in the win, led by 21 points from sophomore Makenzie Cluesman.

UVa-Wise (10-17) opened the game on a 5-0 run and never trailed in securing the school's first ever MEC Tournament victory.  The visitors built the lead to as many as 15 points in the opening 20 minutes before Notre Dame closed the half on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 41-32 at intermission.

Notre Dame (14-13) would continue the run in the second half as the host scored the opening four points of the half, only to see UVa-Wise respond with a 5-0 run to push the lead to 46-35 with 17:46 remaining. 

A Reynesha Archer bucket with 7:42 would give the Cavaliers the biggest lead of the game at 68-48 to put the game out of reach.  The Falcons tried to mount a late rally but, the host were unable to get the lead back to single digits.

Archer, Katie Jo Lester, and Kenzie Poindexter all finished with 12 points in the win while Taylor Sandidge added 11 points, 10 boards and five assists.

With the win, UVa-Wise advances to face number two seed West Liberty University in the quarterfinal round of the MEC Tournament on Thursday.  The action is set to tip at noon from the Charleston Civic Center.