FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The IUP women's basketball program erased a deficit heading into halftime and stayed stride for stride with Fairmont State throughout the third period, ultimately running out of steam in the fourth quarter before falling 78-64 on Wednesday night at Joe Retton Arena.
A one-possession game for both sides throughout the third quarter, Fairmont State (3-0) pulled ahead in the fourth as IUP (2-1) went cold shooting down the stretch. The Falcons outscored IUP by a 21-7 margin in the final 10 minutes, turning what was previously a tightly contested matchup into a runaway victory.
FSU placed five players in double figures, led by a game-high 20 points from Katie Darnell, winning its ninth consecutive home game dating back to last season. In addition to the explosive fourth quarter for the Falcons, Fairmont outscored IUP 38-17 in the first and fourth quarters combined, despite the team's finishing with identical shooting percentage (50.9%). Alyssa DeAngelo added 15 points in 38 minutes.
Fairmont canned five more three-point field goals on the night (7 to 2), while IUP got 18 points and four boards from
Rahmena Henderson.
Nyshae' Weaver added 17 points (7-8 FG) and a team-high six rebounds.
Grace Centrulla added 10 points, including eight in the first half while battling foul trouble at the end of the game.
The Hawks mustered just two field goals over the final 10 minutes, committing seven turnovers over that span. IUP had 23 turnovers on the night, while both teams finished with 73 total possessions.
Shaking off some defensive lapses and some sluggish offensive possessions, IUP used an 11-6 run in the first half to work the score tied at 37 heading into the intermission. Henderson posted a game-high 11 points for IUP in the opening half, while Weaver added 10 points in 13 minutes off the bench.
After opening the game shooting just 21.4% (3-14) from the floor in the opening quarter, IUP flipped the script by shooting 76.5% (13-17) in the second stanza, keyed by some runout baskets in transition. The Falcons posted their largest lead in the first half at 22-14 early on in the second following a three-point basket by Aaliyah Brunny.
Down 22-14 with limited production from its two veteran guards, IUP battled back in the second quarter over the next five minutes in the half, slicing the deficit to 33-29 on a three from Henderson at the 3:29 mark.
Grace Centrulla dropped in eight points (4-4 FG) in the first half with some impressive moves in the post, adding four boards in the initial 20 minutes.
IUP took its first lead of the night on the opening basket of the second half, a Weaver basket off a pass from
Teirra Preston for a 39-37 advantage. FSU countered with eight straight points in response following multiple steal and score plays in transition, part of a larger 10-2 spurt early in the second half for a 47-41 lead.
Turnovers continued to plague IUP into the middle stages of the third quarter, still able to rally back with a 6-0 surge that included just the second triple of the night for IUP at the 5:17 mark, working the score tied at 47 heading into the media timeout.
Preston converted through contact before Henderson dropped in her 18th point of the night for a 53-52 IUP lead at the 2:15 mark of the third. It started a stretch of both teams trading the lead with each basket. The Hawks were efficient again from the floor, out of the locker room going 9-11 (81.8%) in the third while limiting Fairmont State to 8-15 (53.3%) to begin the second half.
Both sides were opportunistic in scoring off turnovers in the third, a quarter that featured seven ties and seven lead changes. Fairmont locked down on defense and separated in the fourth quarter, matching its largest lead of the night at eight points (70-62) before extending the margin to double figures at 72-62 (3:34) and 74-64 (1:08).
Fairmont ended the game on a 6-0 run, part of a 21-5 run over the last 9:44 of the game after IUP opened the scoring in the fourth.
Up Next
IUP visits Goldey-Beacom on Saturday, November 18 for a 5:00 p.m. start.
Follow
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