WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - - Kayla Carey scored 13 of her game-high 18 points in the second half as UVa-Wise claimed a 66-55 non-conference victory over Winston-Salem State at the C.E. Gaines Center in the Cavaliers season opener Wednesday.

UVa-Wise (1-0) opened the game on an 11-2 run and never trailed in the contest. Carey got the scoring started by making a pair of free throws prior to the opening tip. The Rams (1-2) were given an administrative technical after not correctly marking the right starters in the scorebook.

The fast start saw five players score as Blair Harding, Taylor Sandidge, Alle Moore and Kehana Grayer joined Carey in the 11-2 spurt.

Winston-Salem State would get as close as five in the opening period as Tiana Edwards canned a 3-pointer prior to the first period horn to cut the lead to 18-13.

A 3-0 run by the Rams would get coach A.G. Hall's club within two at 18-16 early in the period. It would be as close as the hosts would get all night.

The Cavaliers responded with four straight points, three of which came on a perimeter shot by Makenzie Cluesman. UVa-Wise would build the lead to as many as seven in the period when redshirt freshman Ashley Jackson scored the first points of her collegiate career on a jumper just inside the 3-point arc.

Again, the Rams responded as the team closed the half on a 6-2 run. For the second consecutive period, Winston-Salem State beat the buzzer as Brianna Arnold scored inside sending the teams to intermission with UVa-Wise leading 32-29.

Fouls were the story of the opening half as five Rams had at least two fouls, Sha'Quira Palmer finished the half with three personals as did teammate Edwards. Grayer and Sandidge took three fouls to the break for UVa-Wise, while Allison Ball was saddled with two fouls.

Carey would re-assert herself in the third period. The junior scored the first six points of the quarter for her squad and her bucket at the 2:04 mark gave the Cavs their first double-digit lead at 47-36.

Winston-Salem State continued its trend of scoring at the end of the stanza as an Edwards bucket sent the game to the fourth quarter with UVa-Wise leading 48-40.

Four turnovers early in the fourth quarter by the Cavs allowed the Rams to get back in the ball game. An Edwards layup at 8:06 to play cut the lead to 49-47.

Seniors Grayer and Harding scored UVa-Wise's next five points. Harding scored on a layup inside before dishing the ball to Grayer for a 3-point bucket, it was Grayer's only 3-point attempt of the contest. A Sandidge layup completed a quick 7-0 run and extended coach Kristin Kunzman's team's lead to 56-47.

The run ended the Rams comeback bid as Winston-Salem State could get no closer than eight points over the remainder of the contest.

Carey added six rebounds to her 18 points while Cluesman and Sandidge each finished with 10 points. UVa-Wise won the battle of the boards 36-29 and limited the Rams' Kandance Tate to nine points and six rebounds on three shots. The forward entered the game averaging a double-double.

Edwards led the Rams with 15 points. Winston-Salem state was plagued by 33 turnovers and 23 made free throws by UVa-Wise.

Up next for the Cavaliers is the home and Mountain East Conference opener Saturday. The University of Charleston visits the Prior Center for a 2 p.m. tipoff.