FROSTBURG, Md.- The Frostburg State women's basketball team faced off against Notre Dame (Ohio) on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Falcons 52-47 in a hard-fought game. 
 
From the tip, the first quarter of the game was off to slow start with both teams struggling to find the basket. The Falcons were the first to settle in just after the two-minute mark, scoring the first three baskets. With Alana Ellis opening up the scoring for Notre Dame with a layup. The Bobcats struggled to settle into the game until midway through the first quarter, when both junior Arianna Briggs-Hall and Ciara Thomas each made one free throw, respectively. Junior Maggie Sharp entered the game for the Bobcats, knocking down her first three point shot of the game in hopes of igniting the Bobcat's offense. The low scoring first quarter came to a close, in favor of the Falcons, 8-7. 
 
Entering the second quarter, the Falcon's full court press continuously proved to be a challenge for Bobcats, resulting in multiple turnovers. Notre dame once again struck first, opening the scoring just twelve seconds into the second quarter with a layup from Lilee Carlson. Frostburg sophomore Brenae Ford struck first for the Bobcat's knocking down a beautiful three-point shot, bringing the score to 12-10 Falcons. Notre Dame would proceed to momentarily pull away from the Bobcats after a 9-0 run from the Falcons. The Bobcat's offense found a spark in the final minute of the second quarter, going on a 6-0 scoring run to close out the first half with a score of 26-20. Frostburg's 14 first half turnovers, proved to weigh heavy on getting the offense started. 
 
The energy in Bobcat Arena intensified as the third quarter began, with both teams hoping to strike first in the second half of the game. The Falcon's Ellis once again opened the half, getting to the basket for a layup. Samiya Esema got the scoring started for the Bobcat's, powering through the Falcon's defense and laying in her second basket of the afternoon, bringing the score to 33-24 Notre Dame. The Bobcats once again ended the quarter on a positive note, rallying together a string of baskets, with Sharp hitting her second three of the game. An intense third quarter came to a close with the Bobcats pulling within four points of the Falcons, ending the quarter in favor of the Falcons 36-32. 
 
Bobcat Arena came alive in the fourth quarter, rallying behind the Bobcats in hopes of a final quarter comeback. Esema opened the scoring for the Bobcats in the fourth, getting to the basket for a layup, bringing her total on the night to seven points. Ali-Shakir showed her range knocking down a much need three pointer for the Falcons. Senior Morgan Dombroski would answer, as she knocked down her first of two three-point shots in the fourth quarter. The score would stand at 39-39 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. Both teams continued to exchange baskets with Esema dropping in her final layup of the afternoon, bringing her to a team leading 11-point finish. Dombroski went on to hit a clutch three pointer for the Bobcats with just over one-minute remaining in the game that brought the score to 49-47 Falcons. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, the game would end on a trio of free throws for the Falcons. The final score on the day was 52-47 favoring the Falcons of Notre Dame. 
 
Esema led the day for the Bobcats recording a double-double as she scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a hard-fought effort. Dombroski and Sharp added 10 and 8 points respectively. 
 
With the loss, the Bobcats fall to 5-18 on the year, while the Falcons improve to 11-11. FSU returns to action on Wednesday, February 16^th as they travel to take on West Liberty for a 5:30PM tip off. For information and updates, stay tuned at frostburgsports.com