FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State women's basketball team fell just short to Capital Athletic Conference foe Salisbury, 69-60, Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Arena.
Junior Kirsten Rayner led the Bobcats (1-7, 0-3 CAC) with 20 points and 10 rebounds while junior Kache Fields and freshman Megan Kelly each chipped in 13 points.
FSU jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead early in the first quarter and the Bobcats held the lead until Salisbury's Mary McDonagh hit a three with just 1:07 left. The Sea Gulls (5-1, 0-3 CAC) led by just two points, 19-17, heading into the second quarter.
With a made free throw from senior Courtney Young and a layup from Rayner, the Bobcats came within one, 21-20, but McDonagh hit a three with 8:10 remaining before the half to put the Sea Gulls up four, 24-20.
The Bobcat defense held the Gulls scoreless for 2:17 before Lauren Rothfeld made a jumper to give the visitors a six-point lead. It was the Bobcats who were held scoreless for several minutes, but Fields hit a three just before the buzzer and FSU carried a 38-25 deficit into the locker room at halftime.
Salisbury led by as many as 21 points, 48-27, in the third quarter, but the Bobcats never gave up. Two jumpers from Young, one from Rayner and two good free throws from Fields cut the deficit to 15, 50-35, but the Gulls held the advantage to the final quarter, 52-35.
The Bobcats kept chipping away and a 12-5 run in the middle of the quarter brought the Bobcats within 12, 65-53, with 1:47 on the clock. With time winding down, the Bobcats outscored the Sea Gulls 7-3, but the late rally wasn't enough as Salisbury held on to win, 69-60, at the final buzzer.
Salisbury's McDonagh led both teams with 21 points, while teammate Josephine Noonan added her own double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The Bobcats return to action on Sunday, December 20 when they play host to Randolph College. Tip off for the non-conference matchup will be at 3:00 pm.