FROSTBURG, Md.- The Frostburg State Women's basketball team fell to West Virginia State on Saturday afternoon, 93-75.
The Bobcats came out early in the first quarter and got three easy layups by sophomore Brenae Ford, senior Shelby Funchess, and junior Arianna Briggs-Hall to make the score 7-6 WVSU. After another Briggs-Hall layup with the score at 12-8, the Yellow Jackets went on an 8-0 run to stretch their lead to 20-8. Frostburg began to cut the deficit with layups from Ford and an and-one from junior Ciara Thomas, followed by a jumper from sophomore Rhiana Hall to get within 22-17. The Yellow Jackets scored in the final minute to get the score to 24-17 at the end of the quarter.
The Bobcats came out hot in the second quarter as junior Maggie Sharp nailed a three to cut the lead to four. Senior Morgan Dombroski and Ford each had a pair of buckets to get within two at 30-28. Ford, Sharp, and Dombroski then all had buckets to tie the game at 34-34, with Dombroski converting an and-one to give Frostburg their first lead. Briggs-Hall then took the lead back after a WVSU bucket and Hall made a layup to put FSU up by three, but the Yellow Jackets would answer with a three-pointer and a layup at the buzzer to take the lead into the half 40-39.
After half, both teams went back-and-forth as the lead changed five times. WVSU led 49-45 on a made three, but Frostburg responded with a 7-0 run to take a 52-49 lead. The teams continued to trade leads, as a pair of free throws from junior Ciara Thomas gave the Bobcats a 58-56 lead, but the Yellow Jackets went on a 6-0 run to end the quarter with a 62-58 lead.
Frostburg again went on a run in the beginning of the fourth quarter, turning a four-point deficit into a two-point lead with a three from Sharp and an and-one from Thomas making it 68-66.With the score tied at 70-70, the Yellow Jackets used some strong defense to hold FSU scoreless for over three and a half minutes and pushed to an 86-70 lead. WVSU's offense continued to click as they came away 93-75 winners.
Ford and Thomas led the way for the Bobcats as they both tallied 13 points, joined in double figures by Sharp and Dombroski. Thomas also led the team with four assists and added a block. Briggs-Hall controlled the glass as she brought in 8 rebounds and sophomore Samiya Esema added 7 boards for the Bobcats.
With the loss the Bobcats drop to 3-16 and West Virginia State jumps to 12-5 on the year. Frostburg is back in action Monday, January 3 as they travel to Wheeling at 6 p.m. For information and updates stay tuned at frostburgpsorts.com.
