INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University women's basketball team played host to Fairmont State on Saturday afternoon at the Walker Convocation Center. The Yellow Jackets picked up their second home win of the year, 99-78.

WVSU improves to 6-4 in the Mountain East Conference with the win while the Falcons drop to 3-7 in the MEC.

Sophomore guard Destiny Fields led the way for the Yellow Jackets with a 28-point and 12-rebound double-double. Sophomore Shelby Harmeyer chipped in with 15 points while Alexis Hall and Kalia Cunningham each produced 13 points.

The first quarter of the game was a close back-and-forth battle. The largest lead held by either team in the period was only five points. However, Fairmont State was able to make a small run at the end of the quarter and head into the second with a small two-point lead, 24-22.

The Yellow Jackets were able to control the game for most of the second quarter. WVSU was able to close the gap and even take the lead around the seven-minute mark of play. The quarter then turned into a fairly even contest until West Virginia State was able to extend their lead toward the end of the quarter with a group of layups and a big three-point shot from Shelby Harmeyer. The Yellow Jackets went into halftime with the lead, 49-41.

Most of the third quarter was an extremely fasted-paced, tight matchup. Neither team was allowing any separation. If one team made a shot, the other answered in a matter of seconds. The separation came in the last two minutes of the period as WVSU started to force turnovers and capitalize on them. However, the Yellow Jackets only won the quarter by a slim margin thanks to a last-second heave that found the back of the net by the Falcons. West Virginia State headed into the final period of play up by 11, 77-66.

WVSU was able to maintain control of the game for the entire fourth quarter. Fairmont State tried a late comeback towards the end of the quarter but was halted quickly by turnovers and a three-point bucket by Harmeyer. West Virginia State was able to dribble out the final seconds of the game to secure the win.

Per usual the Yellow Jackets were able to speed up the Falcons, cause turnovers, and score off those turnovers. WVSU turned Fairmont State over 21 times and scored 33 points off those turnovers.

West Virginia State will head across town to Charleston on Wednesday Feb. 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.