WHEELING, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team defeated the Wheeling Cardinals on the road 59-47 Monday evening. 
 
Senior Shelby Funchess got things started for FSU with a jumper to tie the game at 2-2. After the sides traded baskets through the first half of the quarter, Frostburg took their first lead at 10-9 on a score in the paint from sophomore Samiya Esema. On the next trip down the court, junior Maggie Sharp knocked down a three that was followed up by another two from Esema as the Bobcats held Wheeling scoreless over the final 3:29 en route to a 15-9 lead.
 
The second quarter started with a three-pointer from redshirt-sophomore Kyrsten Joseph to extend the lead to nine. The Cardinals cut the lead to three at 18-15 until sophomore Brenae Ford made a jumper while being fouled and converting her and-one to get the lead back to 21-15. WU stayed with Frostburg until back-to-back buckets from Funchess and junior Arianna Briggs-Hall pushed the lead to 27-19, then a pair of Funchess free throws got Frostburg a double-digit lead. Both teams traded free throws at the end of the half, with Briggs-Hall ripping down an offensive board and making a pair at the charity stripe with 13 seconds left to give FSU a 31-21 lead into the half. 
 
Wheeling came out strong to start the second half, cutting the deficit to six before sophomore Niya More got the Bobcats going with a layup. The lead was then stretched to 12 on a layup and a pair of free throws from Esema, as Frostburg got a majority of their points at the line in the quarter. WU again stayed within touching distance, getting back to within six with just over a minute remaining. Briggs-Hall converted a layup at the end of the quarter, making the score 44-36 Bobcats going into the last quarter.
 
The fourth quarter started with Frostburg scoring six straight points off layups from senior Morgan Dombroski, junior Ciara Thomas, and Moore to get their largest lead of 50-36. The Cardinals would get within 10 with just under five minutes remaining, but FSU responded with a layup from Briggs-Hall and four straight points from Sharp to stretch the lead to 56-40 on a triple. The Bobcats made some free throws down the stretch as they held Wheeling's offense in check, winning the game 59-47.
 
The 47 points scored by WU is the fewest points Frostburg has allowed since their 57-43 win over Mansfield on November 29, including holding the Cardinals to just 1-14 on threes.

Briggs-Hall fell short of one rebound of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds on the night. Esema was also a bucket away from a double-double with eight points and 10 boards. Dombroski led the passing with three assists, while Sharp, Esema, and Thomas all swiped a pair of steals each. 
 
With the win, FSU improves to 4-16 while Wheeling falls to 5-13. The Bobcats look to keep the momentum going when they host Concord in Bobcat Arena on Wednesday, February 2 at 5:30 PM. For more information visit frostburgsports.com