GREENSBURG, Pa. – Sophomore
Jackie Kimmel (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) hit a three-pointer with 2.7 seconds to play to give the Frostburg State women’s basketball team a 63-62 win at Pitt-Greensburg in non-conference action Saturday afternoon.
Kimmel took the pass on the right-wing after a dribble-drive by freshman
Elaina Hummel (Huntington, Pa./Southern Huntington). It was Kimmel’s only field-goal of the second half, but it proved to be the biggest of the day.
Sophomore guard Stephanie Straka (Jerome, Pa./Conemaugh Township) hit a lay-up at 3:26 to tie the score at 60. Neither team could capitalize on several possessions with the score knotted, until guard Ali Bilak put Pitt-Greensburg ahead, 62-60, at 1:08 on a putback.
After Straka missed a layup with 44 seconds left and the shot clock winding down, she fouled Bilak with 15.1 seconds left to shoot a 1-and-1. Bilak missed the front-end, setting up Frostburg’s final possession and Kimmel’s clutch shot.
Frostburg (4-5) struggled out of the gate, shooting a cold 30 percent from the field in the first half. Despite their offensive difficulties, they trailed by just eight, 29-21, at the intermission. Kimmel led the team with seven first-half points on 3-of-4 shooting.
With full-court pressure to open the second half, Frostburg managed to slice into the lead by wearing down the short-handed Pitt-Greensburg Bobcats. UPG worked just seven players into action, with three players logging at least 32 minutes.
Hummel hit a three at 17:02 to make it 33-28. A foul was called on the play after the shot, which allowed Kimmel to convert a free-throw on the ensuing possession to make it 33-29.
Sophomore
Brynn Arnone (Keedysville, Md./Boonsboro) finished with nine points, and was instrumental in pulling the Bobcats into the lead in the second half. She made a pair of layups to pull FSU to 39-37 at the 14:04 mark, and she hit a jumper at 12:45 to put Frostburg ahead, 41-39.
From that point on, neither team led by more than four points. Frostburg locked down on defense, holding Pitt-Greensburg to just two points in the final 5:07 of the contest.
Frostburg continues its out-of-conference road trip Tuesday at Shenandoah.