INSTITUTE, W.Va. --  In a game of runs, UVa-Wise provided the final one by outscoring host West Virginia State20-6 over a seven minute stretch late in the second half to score a 72-58 Mountain East Conference win on Thursday.

West Virginia State (5-8, 2-4 MEC) opened the game on a 9-0 run as UVa-Wise missed its first eight shots of the game before Kayla Carey scored to make the score 9-2 with 16:21 to play in the opening half.

UVa-Wise (5-8, 4-3 MEC) would finish the half by outscoring State 35-16 over the final 16:21 of the half to take a 35-25 lead to intermission.  In the half, the Cavaliers turned nine Yellow Jackets' turnovers into 17 points.  Blair Harding made a pair of 3-pointers in the half to score a team-high eight points in the half while Carey corralled seven rebounds in the period.

Like the opening half, State opened the second half on a big run.  The Yellow Jackets opened the second half on a 10-3 run to close the lead to three with 15:14 to play.  Katie Jo Dockery stopped the West Virginia State flurry with a pair of foul shots before Naya Williams stole the ball and finished the fast break with a lay in. 

A Deyahnna Styles bucket with 9:39 to play would get State within one at 47-46.  The Cavaliers responded with the final run of the evening, delivering the knockout blow.  Allison Ball would make back-to-back 3-pointers before Carey found Ball for her third triple in a three minute stretch that pushed the lead to 60-50 with 6:12 remaining. 

UVa-Wise would lead by as many as 15 in the late stages as consecutive buckets by Carey and a 3-pointer from Dockery with 2:14 to play gave the visitors a 67-52 advantage.

Carey scored in double figures for the seventh consecutive game and recorded her second double-double in as many games.  The sophomore finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, four assists, and two steals.  Harding added 14 points while Dockery and Megan Smith each netted 10 points in the team's third MEC road win of the year.

As a team, the Cavs turned the ball over a season-low four times while making 12 of 14 free throws.

Trina Current led a quartet of Yellow Jackets in double figures with 13 points.

UVa-Wise will return to the Prior Center Saturday when Shepherd University comes to town for a 2 pm tip.