Ohio Valley Slips Past FSU, 64-62

FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Kendra Benedict scored the final four points to help Ohio Valley overcome a late deficit and lead the Fighting Scots to the 64-62 win over Fairmont State on Thursday night at Joe Retton Arena.

The win improved Ohio Valley to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the WVIAC. The Falcons slipped to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

Alana Auld led Ohio Valley with 23 points, and Kendra Benedict added 14 points and 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.

The Falcons got 15 points apiece from Lauren Gilbert and Tiffany Nicholson. Jen Rasko came off the bench to add 11 points.

Ohio Valley shot 43 percent from the field, compared to 33 percent for the Falcons. The Fighting Scots held the edge in rebounds, 43-40. OVU also forced the Falcons into four more turnovers, 19-15, in the game.

The two teams went back and forth for the majority of the first half before the Fighting Scots went on a 10-0 run to make it 30-20 midway through the half. However, a three from Wright and then came up with an offensive rebound and a bucket after a missed second free throw to cut it to 30-26. Rasko then drained a three from the corner to counter attack to make it 30-29. Ohio Valley would take advantage of an FSU turnover and transition points to help take a 37-32 lead into the break.

Ohio Valley took advantage of FSU’s 12 first half turnovers turning them into 15 points. The Fighting Scots shot 50 percent from the field (16-of-32) while Fairmont State managed just 31 percent (9-of-29). The Falcons stayed in the game at the charity stripe making 10-of-12 attempts to OVU’s 1-of-3.

The Falcons quickly got back into the game after threes from Nicholson and Gilbert gave the Falcons their first lead since 13:12 in the first half at 38-37 with 18:06 to go. The two teams went back and forth for the next 10 minutes with neither team getting much breathing room the rest of the way with neither team leading by more than four points during that span.

With FSU leading 62-60 into the final minute, Kendra Benedict picked up an offensive rebound and put it back to tie it at 62-62. The Falcons turned it over on their possession and Kendra Benedict again got free down low for a short bucket to give the Fighting Scots the 64-62 lead with 17 seconds left. Snyder had the ball and drove for the final shot, but it missed off the rim and Ohio Valley gobbled up the rebound to secure the win.