BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — West Virginia State (6-8, 3-5 MEC) stayed even with West Virginia Wesleyan (8-4, 6-3 MEC) through the opening half, but a decisive third-quarter surge by the Bobcats proved to be the difference as the Yellow Jackets dropped an 86–67 Mountain East Conference decision Saturday afternoon inside the Rockefeller Center.

West Virginia State Yellow Jackets women's basketball matched Wesleyan basket-for-basket early, with the game tied at 16 after one quarter and deadlocked again at 34–34 at the break, but Wesleyan erupted for 33 third-quarter points to seize control and never relinquish the lead.

Junior forward Tiir Nyok led the Yellow Jackets with 15 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting effort, adding six rebounds and two steals. Latisha Parris chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Baylee Goins and Ahjanae Young added 10 and nine points, respectively. State also received eight rebounds and a block from Imani Hickman as it won the offensive glass, 16–6.

West Virginia State shot 26-of-71 from the floor and 11-of-13 at the free-throw line, forcing 15 Bobcat turnovers and turning them into 17 points. The Yellow Jackets also got 23 points from the bench and stayed aggressive defensively with nine steals.

The Bobcats were powered by Emma Witt's 31-point, nine-rebound performance, while Ana Young knocked down five three-pointers as part of a 19-point outing. The Bobcats shot 55 percent in the third quarter and finished the game at 55.2 percent overall, using balanced ball movement and timely perimeter shooting to pull away.

WVSU will take on the West Liberty Hilltoppers next on the road in a twice rescheduled game from December. Tip off at West Liberty's ASRC is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.