WISE - - Jaana Motton scored 16 points to lead a trio of Cardinals in double figure scoring as Wheeling Jesuit improved to 14-2 with a 73-68 Mountain East Conference win over UVa-Wise at the Prior Center Monday.

The game was tied three times and the score changed hands on five occasions in the opening quarter. Kayla Carey scored the final three points of the period to send UVa-Wise (6-8, 2-8 MEC) to the second quarter with a 15-12 advantage.

Wheeling Jesuit (14-2, 9-1 MEC) leading scorer Jaila Bryant picked up two fouls in the opening quarter as the reigning all-conference performer was limited to three first half minutes.

Playing without Bryant, the visitors performed well. Chenelle Moore scored six of her 10 points in the second quarter while also grabbing three rebounds.

Wheeling Jesuit went a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line during the quarter and shot 46.2 percent from the field as they outscored UVa-Wise 16-12 in the period.

The Cardinals kicked up their defensive intensity in the 10-minute stanza as well. The Cavaliers turned the ball over six times in the quarter. With the strong second period performance, Wheeling Jesuit took a 28-27 lead to intermission.

Bryant returned for the start of the third quarter and the Wheeling Jesuit offense took off. The Cardinals scored on their first eight possessions of the period and Bryant was in the middle of all the action. The senior scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds and handed out a trio of assists in the period.

A 20-point scoring period for the Cardinals, the Cavs were able to stay within reach due to the long range shooting of Blair Harding. The Baltimore native canned a pair of 3-point buckets as part of her game-high 17 points.

Trailing 48-41 to start the final period, UVa-Wise began the final quarter on a 5-0 run. Taylor Sandidge opened the scoring with a 3-pointer before Harding found Kehana Grayer for a deep two-point jumper.

Wheeling Jesuit would score 12 of the game's next 14 points to take a 60-48 lead with 5:57 to play. UVa-Wise would get as close as five points on five separate occasions over the remainder of the game but, Kristin Kunzman's team would be unable to get any closer.

Bryant and Motton led the way for the Cardinals in the final period combining to go 6-11 from the field for 13 points.

Carey scored 11 points for UVa-Wise in the fourth quarter but the deficit would be too much to overcome.

Bryant finished with 14 points and six assists while Moore finished a rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points. Overall, the Cardinals grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and won the battle of the boards 33-32.

14, Sandidge 13 and Makenzie Cluesman 10 joined Harding in double figure scoring for the Cavs.

UVa-Wise will complete a three-game home stand on Thursday when Concord University visits the Prior Center in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.