WISE - - Taylor Sandidge scored 19 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists to lead UVa-Wise to a 74-60 victory over Urbana University at the Prior Center Sunday afternoon. The win keeps the Cavaliers in a tie for first place in the Mountain East Conference with a 6-1 league mark.

Urbana (3-7, 1-6 MEC) got off to a fast start as Stefanie Davis scored nine of her team-high 17 points in the opening quarter as the Blue Knights took a 21-15 lead to the second period.  Haley Ducey's club shot 52.9 percent from the field in the opening quarter while limiting UVa-Wise to 25 percent shooting.

UVa-Wise (11-4, 6-1 MEC) was able to stay within reach due to a perfect showing (6-6) at the free throw line in the opening 10 minutes.

The Cavaliers opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run as Kayla Carey scored four points, Sandidge netted three points and Natalie Boothe drained a 3-pointer to get UVa-Wise in front 25-23.

The Blue Knights would respond with a 5-0 run of their own before the Cavs finished the half 9-4 run to take a 34-32 lead to intermission.

Urbana and UVa-Wise would swap the lead four times in the opening minutes of the second half before the Cavs closed the third quarter on a 7-0 run to take command of the game. Makenzie Cluesman spurred the run with a 3-pointer and a fast break layup. Alle Moore provided the other two points in the run.

Kristin Kunzman's team ran the lead to high as 17 points in the final minute on a 3-point play by Carey before settling the final winning margin of 74-60.

After  finishing even in the rebounding margin in the opening 20 minutes, UVa-Wise dominated the glass in the second half by limiting Urbana to 12 second half rebounds en route to winning the rebounding battle 43-32.

Cluesman finished a rebound shy of a double-double as she tallied 12 points. Carey posted 17 points to go with six rebounds and a pair of steals.

Sylvia Hudson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds while Danie Shafer chipped in 13 points for the Blue Knights.

As a team, UVa-Wise handed out 17 assists on 26 made buckets. Allison Ball led all players with five assists while Cluesman and Sandidge had three each.

A total of nine Cavs scored in the game, Kayla Mullins came off the bench to score eight points to aid the hosts to a 15-8 margin in bench points.

UVa-Wise will continue its elongated home stand Tuesday when Notre Dame College visits the Prior Center in a 5:30 p.m. tip.