CUMBERLAND, Md. - The Frostburg State women's basketball team opened Mountain East Conference play on Saturday with a 51-49 loss to West Virginia Wesleyan.
The loss drops Frostburg to 0-5 overall on the season, while Wesleyan improves to 3-2. It was the league opener for both schools.
Frostburg trailed just two, 51-49, in the closing seconds and FSU had a chance to tie it late, but a layup in the paint bounced off the rim and Wesleyan snared the rebound. A late free throw by the visitors sealed the final at 51-49.
Senior Amanda Emory powered the Bobcats with 15 points and nine rebounds, while playing all 40 minutes for Frostburg. Graduate Victoria Diggs was the second player in double figures with 11 points and four rebounds.
Junior Jada Holland just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. She had a chance to tie the game late with a shot in the paint that was off target.
West Virginia Wesleyan outscored Frostburg 10-9 in low scoring first quarter. FSU rebounded in the second 10 minutes with a 14-12 scoring advantage to lead 23-22 at the break.
FSU trailed by five midway through the second quarter before Holland hit back-to-back baskets to help Frostburg rally. Diggs closed the half with two late free throws for the lead.
FSU carried that late half momentum into the third quarter as the Bobcats increased their lead to eight. Emory kick started an 11-0 run for Frostburg with a layup at 6:30 and another layup at 5:21 for a 29-26 lead. Holland hit a layup at 4:53 and Diggs connected on a three-pointer with 4:22 showing for a 34-26 cushion.
Wesleyan closed the third quarter on a 10-1 run that trimmed its deficit to 36-35.
FSU tied the game twice in the opening minutes of the fourth stanza and Diggs hit a three-pointer at 4:58 as Frostburg led by three, 45-42. First-year Arianna Briggs-Hall hit a pair of baskets following Diggs' three that kept FSU in the lead.
However, WVWC grabbed the late lead when Abi Gabauer hit a layup at 1:26 for the 51-49 lead.
Gabauer led Wesleyan with 16 points, while Brittany Stawovy and Nicole Gilyard each added 10.
Frostburg returns to the court on Tuesday at Davis & Elkins at 5:30 pm.
