Box Score
FAIRMONT, W. Va. – In a back-and-forth contest throughout, WVIAC preseason favorite Fairmont State edged the visiting Clarion University women's basketball team, 70-68, in the season opener for both teams Friday afternoon in Fairmont, W. Va.
 
Clarion (0-1) led 68-66 following an Ann Deibert basket with 1:30 to play, but Fairmont State's Kaitlin Snyder hit a three-pointer with a minute left to put the Falcons (1-0) ahead 69-68.
 
The two teams then traded three turnovers with two coming from the Golden Eagles before Snyder missed the front-end of a one-and-one with 27 seconds to play. But another turnover by Clarion gave the ball back to Fairmont State, and Hailey Garrett hit one of two charity shots with 11 seconds left to put the Falcons up two.
 
Clarion then had a couple of chances to tie or win the game in the final seconds but couldn't get a clean shot off.
 
Deibert led Clarion with 14 points, while Lauren Savulchak and Tania Holmes each had 12 points with Holmes coming in her collegiate debut. Mariah Gador had a team-high eight rebounds in her first-ever college game while adding five points and four assists, and Savulchak chipped in with seven rebounds. Deibert had six boards, and Raven Jones added nine points, four rebounds and three steals. 
 
Snyder had a game-high 26 points to lead Fairmont State with Emily Lohr adding 14 points and Garrett 13. Garrett also had nine rebounds and six assists. 
 
Clarion returns to action at 2 p.m. Saturday when it faces Concord at Fairmont State.