FROSTBURG, Md. – Frostburg State used a 21-0 run in the first quarter to take an early lead that it would never relinquish in its Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats won the first quarter 23-5 and survived a late Wesley spurt to win 77-71.
The Bobcats conclude their regular season with a 12-13 overall record with an 8-10 conference mark. Wesley finishes its season 3-15 in conference and 5-20 overall.
Frostburg was led by sophomore Victoria Diggs, who contributed 20 points, three rebounds and three assists. It's the eighth time this season that she's eclipsed the 20-point mark in the 2017-18 season. Adjowah Pinkrah was honored as the lone Bobcat senior pregame, and poured in 13 points to go with six rebounds in the win.
The Wolverines knocked down a three-pointer to begin the scoring in the first, however the Bobcats responded with 21-consecutive points and never trailed again. Six different Bobcats scored on the run, and the Bobcats registered three steals and two blocks during the spurt. When the quarter came to a close, FSU led 23-5.
Wesley whittled the Frostburg lead back down to 15 points in the second quarter, before back-to-back three pointers by Pinkrah and junior Megan Kelly and a three-point play by sophomore Victoria Yoder pushed the lead back up to 21 points. The Bobcats carried a 45-22 lead into halftime.
Frostburg's lead swelled to its largest in the third quarter with a 9-0 run putting the Bobcats up 56-25 with 6:39 to play in the quarter. The Bobcat guards, Diggs, Pinkrah and first-year Kayla Wilson accounted for all nine points in the run. However, after building a 31-point lead, Frostburg only connected on two field goals over the final six minutes of the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Frostburg led 70-52 with 4:12 to play, but Wesley knocked down three three-pointers that were part of a 19-5 run that cut the Bobcat advantage to 75-71 with ten seconds to play. Junior Jasmine Tirado-Viscalla knocked down a pair of late free throws to extend the lead and put the game out of reach.
Junior Amber Downey scored in double figures for the third time this season with an 11-point effort off the bench to go with a pair of blocks and three rebounds. Classmate Sydney Stotler added ten points and four rebounds.
The Bobcats racked up 18 assists on the afternoon getting three apiece from Diggs, Wilson, Yoder and Kelly. Frostburg shot a season-best 92.9% (13-14) from the free throw line and made 30-of-64 shots from the field (46.9%), its fourth-best mark of the year.
The Bobcats qualify for the CAC postseason tournament for the second-straight season and have earned the number six seed. They will travel to either York (Pa.) or Mary Washington depending on this evening's results. They will tip-off on the road on Tuesday evening.
A full preview for the Bobcat's first-round postseason matchup will be available Monday.
