WISE - - Bluefield State forced 23 UVA Wise turnovers and held the homestanding Cavaliers without a 3-point bucket en route to a 60-55 non-conference women's basketball victory at the Prior Center Monday.

Bluefield State (3-1) forward Alexyss Newman got off to a fast start in the opening quarter. Newman netted eight of her game-high 22 points in the first 10 minutes as her team forced UVA Wise (1-3) to commit five opening period turnovers.

Despite 12 first turnovers and a 10-for-25 showing from the field in the opening half, the Cavs took a 24-22 lead to intermission when fifth-year Caitlyn Ross made a layup at the rim with two seconds to play.

The Blues built a six point lead with less than a minute to play in the third quarter when Katrina Davis sank a triple off an Azariah Binford assist. The Cavs would get the game back within four going to the final period when Sable Burnside intercepted a pass and put the ball in the hoop before the third quarter horn sounded.

A 3-pointer by Newman pushed the Bluefield State lead back to seven  at 46-39 with 8:48 to play. The lead would quickly evaporate. UVA Wise would go score the next eight points to go on top 48-47 with 5:10 remaining. The run culminated in a Sarah Burton basket off one of Ross' game-high eight assists.

It would be the last lead of the day for the hosts. Binford quickly put Bluefield State back on top with a 3-pointer before Newman scored five straight points to cap a 7-0 spurt for the Big Blues.

Trailing 54-47 with 3:20 to play, Burton and Katlin Burger combined to score the next four points to get the Cavs within three at 54-51 with 1:43 showing on the clock.

A layup by Binford and two foul shots from UVA Wise's Ines Latapia left it a three-point affair with 72 ticks left.

The Cavs would force a miss on the next possession but, would come up empty down three with the ball. Forced to foul, Bluefield State salted the game away at the charity stripe on a night when the visitors went 12-for-12 at the line.

Newman finished with 10 rebounds to record a double-double as the only Bluefield State player in double-figure scoring.

Burger finished with 18 points and six rebounds while Ross' final line read 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as she logged all 40 minutes.

Jamie Cluesmans' team finished 0-for-8 from the 3-point line. It marked the first time since Feb. 1, 2018, when the team also went 0-for-8 from distance in a loss at West Liberty University.

The Cavs will be back in action Wednesday when the team goes on the road to face King University in a 5:30 p.m. tip.