BUCKHANNON – Mari Stewart scored a game-high 26 points and teammate Adrian Cunningham was right behind with 25 points for the West Virginia Wesleyan Lady Bobcats, but it wasn't enough to lead the Lady 'Cats to a victory as they dropped an 84-74 decision to the visiting Virginia-Wise Lady Cavaliers Saturday afternoon in Rockefeller Center.

Wesleyan had their best shooting game of the season hitting on 46.9 percent of their shots. Their previous best from the floor was last Thursday against Glenville State (43.3).

The Lady Bobcat defense though let Virginia-Wise shoot 51.9 percent for the floor including a 10-for-20 performance from behind the three-point stripe.

The loss left head coach Michael Bari's squad with a 1-14 overall record and 1-11 ledger in the MEC.

Virginia-Wise improved to 6-12 overall and 5-7 in the MEC.

Wesleyan was down early 8-5, but Stewart knocked down a jumper and Cunningham darted inside for a lay-up to give the Lady Bobcats their only lead of the game, at 9-8, with six minutes gone.

Virginia-Wise went on an 11-4 run to take a 19-12 lead before Stewart made a jumper to make it a 19-14 game with 9:16 remaining in the first half.

Wesleyan cut that lead down to four when Cunningham turned in an old-fashioned three-point play after being fouled on her lay-up. That made the score 26-22 with 2:56 left in the half.

Virginia-Wise closed the half on a 9-4 run to take a 35-26 lead into the intermission.

Virginia-Wise built their lead to 13, at 50-37, with five minutes elapsed off the second-half clock.

Stewart made a lay-up, and after a Virginia-Wise basket, Cunningham turned in another three-point play and Allyson Freiermuth unleashed a three-pointer to bring the Lady 'Cats to within seven, at 52-45, with 12 minutes remaining.

The Lady Cavaliers went on a 16-7 spree to take their biggest lead of the game, at 16 at 68-52, with 6:23 left to play.

Wesleyan countered with their own 11-2 run over the next three minutes.

Alexa Mortenson fired in a trey, and after two free throws by Virginia-Wise, Mortenson came back with a jumper, Stewart knocked down a 12-footer, Mortenson darted inside for a lay-up and Cunningham had a putback to make it a 70-63 score with 3:34 remaining.

Wesleyan though couldn't get any closer than seven points during the final three minutes.

Stewart added 12 rebounds to go along with her 26 points for a double-double.

Mortenson was the other Lady Bobcat to reach double digits with 10 points.

Freiermuth added six points while Allie Browne and Chloe Bland (pictured) each had three.

The Lady 'Cats will return to action this Thursday when they visit Concord for a MEC clash.

Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.

(Photo courtesy of Peter Galarneau Jr.)