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GOLDEN EAGLES FALL TO FAIRMONT STATE IN CLOSING SECONDS

            FAIRMONT, W. Va. – Molly Kiger’s two free throws with 41 seconds left lifted Fairmont State to a 70-68 win over visiting Clarion on the second day of the Fairmont State New Year’s Classic Wednesday afternoon.

            The Golden Eagles’ My’Kea Cohill had three shots to tie the game in the final 14 seconds including a jumper as time expired but none of the shots found the mark.

            Clarion (3-7) trailed by 10 – 52-42 – with 16:55 left and by eight – 61-53 – with 10:11 to play but went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 61 on two Jessica Albanese’s free throws with 6:46 to play.

            The Golden Eagles then took their first lead of the game – 67-66 – on two more Albanese free throws with 3:37 to play. The lead grew to two points – 68-66 – on one of two charity shots by April Gratton with 1:42 left.

            Kiger, however, tied the game at 68 with two charity shots at the 1:22 mark before a Katrina Greer turnover gave the ball back to Fairmont State (8-2) with a minute to play. Kiger then hit what turned out to be the winning free throws at the 41-second mark.

            Trailing by two, Clarion still had a shot to tie or win the game.

            Cohill’s first shot came at 14 seconds, and after the miss she grabbed her own rebound and tried again with three seconds left. Once again she missed but got rebound and had one last chance to tie the game. But that too was no good.

            Fairmont State came out of the gate fast and built a 15-point lead – 38-23 – late in the first half before Clarion cut the deficit to 10 – 44-34 – at halftime.

            Greer led all scorers with a season-high 18 points one game after scoring her previous season-high of 16 points in a loss to Concord.

            Albanese added 13 points, five rebounds for Clarion, while Cohill had 12 points, Ashley Grimm 10 points and three assists and Gratton eight points and seven rebounds.

            Kiger and Danielle Cornish led Fairmont State with 15 points each while Jaimie Merinar chipped in with 12 and Stephanie Beason 11.  

            Clarion returns to the hardwood Saturday when it hosts East Stroudsburg at 1 p.m. That starts a three-game homestand for Clarion which entertains Kutztown at 1 p.m. Sunday and opens up PSAC-West play when California comes to town Wednesday at 6 p.m.