WISE - - Fairmont State never trailed Thursday as the Fighting Falcons claimed a 61-50 Mountain East Conference women's basketball victory over UVa-Wise at the Prior Center. With the win, Fairmont State posted a season-series sweep of the Cavaliers.

Fairmont State (12-11, 7-10 MEC) jumped out to a 21-8 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Steve McDonald's team shot 70 percent from the floor in the opening 10 minutes as Kelli Jo Harrison scored eight of her 14 points in the period.

UVa-Wise (4-18, 3-14 MEC) never recovered as Elise Clyburn's team never got within one possession. The Cavaliers would within at 39-34 with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by freshman Hanna Oliver.

The visitors responded by posting a 12-6 spurt to take a 51-40 lead before cruising to the 61-50 victory.

The Cavs were limited 31.1 percent shooting for the game and lost the battle of the boards 43-36.

Brooke Kurucz led all players with 17 points in the win to lead 10 Fairmont State players who cracked the scoring column.

Cynita Webb was the only UVa-Wise player who reached double figures, the sophomore finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds on 4-of-10 shooting.

Next up, Shepherd visits the Prior Center for a 2 p.m. tip Saturday.