RELEASE DATE: 1/02/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Late run spells doom for Mansfield women in 79-64 loss to Fairmont State in opening round of Fairmont State Classic

Game Statistics

FAIRMONT, WV – Ashley Vavrek, Gabby Gattuso and Danielle Cornish combined for 63 points and Fairmont State used a 16-4 run over a four minute span late in the game to beat Mansfield 79-64 in the opening game of the Fairmont State New Year’s Classic at Joe Retton Arena Wednesday evening.

After leading 35-28 at halftime, Fairmont State (7-1) increased its lead to 41-30 three minutes into the second half before Mansfield came storming back with a 9-1 run keyed by a pair of 3-pointers by junior Alicia Espigh (McVeytown/Lewistown) -- the second one cutting the lead to 42-39 at the 14:04 mark of the second half.

Mansfield still trailed by three points at 57-54 when Jeanette Meacham (Clairton/Mercyhurst North East) hit two free throws with 6:55 to play before Fairmont went on a 16-4 run to take a 73-58 lead on a jumper by Cornish with 2:35 left in the game.

Espigh, who is averaging 15.8 ppg over the last six games, led the Mountaineers in scoring with 19 points while Meacham scored a career-best 16 points. Sophomore forward Merissa Gaeta (Kirkwood,NY/Windsor) added 12 points while pulling down five rebounds.

Vavrek scored a game-high 22 points for Fairmont State with Gabby Gattuso scoring 21 points including 17 in the second half. Danielle Cornish added 20 points.

Mansfield (4-6) got 17 points from its bench compared to four points by the Fairmont State bench.

The Mountaineers will take on Concord University, the WVIAC preseason favorite, Thursday afternoon starting at 1 p.m. before returning home to host California (PA) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Decker Gymnasium.

Newspaper Box Score

Mansfield vs Fairmont State

1/2/08 6 p.m. at Fairmont, W.Va. (Joe Retton Arena)

At Fairmont, W.Va. (Joe Retton Arena)

FAIRMONT STATE 79, MANSFIELD 64

MANSFIELD (4-6)

Alicia Espigh 8-12 0-0 19; Jeanette Meacham 7-15 2-2 16; Merissa Gaeta 6-10

0-0 12; Courtney Brooks 3-15 1-2 9; Kelli Eastman 2-2 0-0 5; Clarissa

Correll 0-1 3-4 3; Emily Akins 0-2 0-0 0; Brittany Reed 0-2 0-0 0. Totals

26-59 6-8 64.

FAIRMONT STATE (7-1)

Ashley Vavrek 9-14 1-2 22; Gabby Gattuso 9-16 3-4 21; Danielle Cornish 10-16

0-0 20; Jaimie Merinar 3-6 1-1 8; Samantha Wanichko 1-4 2-2 4; Molly Kiger

1-2 0-0 2; Samantha Guell 1-1 0-0 2; Trisha Uhl 0-0 0-0 0; Shannon Wanichko

0-0 0-0 0; Melissa Henry 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-60 7-9 79.

Mansfield.....................   28   36  -   64

Fairmont State................   35   44  -   79

3-point goals--Mansfield 6-18 (Alicia Espigh 3-6; Courtney Brooks 2-6; Kelli

Eastman 1-1; Emily Akins 0-1; Brittany Reed 0-1; Merissa Gaeta 0-1; Jeanette

Meacham 0-2), Fairmont State 4-8 (Ashley Vavrek 3-5; Jaimie Merinar 1-2;

Samantha Wanichko 0-1). Fouled out--Mansfield-None, Fairmont State-None.

Rebounds--Mansfield 27 (Clarissa Correll 6), Fairmont State 33 (Gabby

Gattuso 10). Assists--Mansfield 17 (Courtney Brooks 8), Fairmont State 20

(Jaimie Merinar 5). Total fouls--Mansfield 10, Fairmont State 9. Technical

fouls--Mansfield-None, Fairmont State-None. A-375

Game 2 of the Fairmont State/New Year's Classic