FAIRMONT, W.Va. - - Host Fairmont State opened the game on a 15-2 run and never trailed in an 84-69 Mountain East Conference victory over UVa-Wise at Joe Retton Arena Saturday.  The Fighting Falcons shot 52.4 percent from the floor and led by as many as 23 points in securing a season series sweep.

Fairmont State (21-6, 15-6) used its defense to jump out to the early lead.  After allowing a made basket on its first defensive possession, the Fighting Falcons would force six consecutive misses and hold the Cavaliers scoreless for 7:03. 

UVa-Wise (9-17, 8-12) would battle back to get as close as five points on two separate occasions in the first half.  Kehana Grayer did her part in keeping the Cavs in the contest as she poured in eight first half points.  Her bucket with 1:35 to play in the opening 20 minutes would make the score 32-27; it would be as close as UVa-Wise would get.

The Fighting Falcons would score the final three points of the first half and post a 10-2 run that would carry over into the first 2:05 of the second half. 

Coach Kristin Kunzman's team would score the next four points to trim a 13-point deficit to nine at 42-33 with just under 16 minutes to play on a basket by Blair Harding.  Fairmont State would then put the game out of reach with an 8-0 spurt that was capped by a made jumper from Emily Lohr.

It was the second win of the season for Fairmont State over UVa-Wise, the team recorded a 69-56 win in Wise earlier this season.

The game was the first in a week for UVa-Wise, the Cavs scheduled game at Shepherd on Thursday was postponed due to snow.  UVa-Wise will make that game up on Monday at 5:30 p.m. before returning home to face Concord on Saturday. 

Saturday's game against Concord will be Senior Day 2015 and could decide which team gets the final home game in the opening round of the conference tournament.  UVa-Wise can clinch the eighth seed with a win at Shepherd on Monday.  Otherwise, they will play Concord for the eighth seed on Saturday.

Fairmont State kept its hopes alive for a first round bye in the upcoming conference tournament with the win.  Coach Steve McDonald's team has one game remaining and holds a 1.5 game lead over Wheeling Jesuit; the Cardinals have three games left after being snowed out Saturday. 

Lohr led all players with 23 points and added nine rebounds while teammate Hailey Garrett registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 boards.

Kayla Carey led UVa-Wise in scoring with 13 points while Grayer and Taylor Sandidge each netted 12 in defeat.