FROSTBURG, Md. – West Liberty escaped Frostburg on Wednesday with a narrow 68-65 win despite the Bobcats never backing down and challenging until the final horn.
 
The Bobcats tied the game at 64 late with layups from sophomore Morgan Dombroski and graduate Victoria Diggs. West Liberty sealed the win with four free throws down the stretch.
 
The Bobcats, sporting their pink jerseys for the matchup with the Hilltoppers to support breast cancer awareness, slip to 4-20 overall and 3-16 in the MEC. West Liberty ended a three-game losing skid with the win and improves to 10-15 and 6-13.
 
With three games remaining on the schedule, the Bobcats will have to win out in order to make the MEC Tournament.
 
Emory led the Bobcats with 18 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore Morgan Dombroski contributed 16 points and five boards. Graduate Victoria Diggs added 11 points.
 
The Bobcats emerged with a 32-25 lead at halftime thanks to 10 points from Dombroski and seven from Emory over the first 20 minutes of play.
 
Frostburg trailed by 10 in the first quarter but the hosts closed the gap to two, 18-16, following the first stanza with four-straight baskets to close the period. Dombroski hit a running layup with 1:44 showing and connected on a jumper as time expired on the frame.
 
The second quarter belonged to the Bobcats as they outscored the Hilltoppers 16-7. FSU used a 9-0 run in the middle of the frame for a 25-19 lead at the media timeout. Emory hit a three-pointer at 5:36 and a layup at 4:14 as the score read 25-19.
 
Dombroski closed the opening half with a jumper at 1:11 to push FSU's lead to 32-25.
 
The Hilltoppers rebounded in the third quarter as they outscored the Bobcats 25-14 and opened the second half with a 10-0 run. FSU narrowed the gap to three following a three-pointer from Diggs and a layup by Emory. Frostburg closed the third down 50-46 following two free throws from Emory.
 
West Liberty opened the fourth with a three-pointer from Olivia Belknap and a jumper from Morgan Brunner for a 55-48 cushion. Jaclyn Kitts later hit a three for a 58-52 lead and she knocked down another three with 3:48 showing.
 
Belknap led the Hilltoppers with 18 points, while Brunner finished with 15.
 
FSU returns to the floor on Saturday when it hosts Wheeling at 2:00 pm for senior day.