INSTITUTE, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team came up short on the road against West Virginia State Saturday afternoon, falling by a final score of 85-79.

WVSU struck right off the bat, scoring a layup off the jump ball. Frostburg struggled to get things going on offense, coughing up three straight turnovers to open the game. The Yellow Jackets proceeded to go up 4-0, before senior MacKenzie Freeze knocked down a mid-range jumper to put the Bobcats on the board. WVSU continued to roll on offense, jumping ahead 9-4, before freshman Alanna Tate retrieved a rebound and raced to the other end of the court for an easy layup. Tate scored again, followed by freshman Jenna Muha getting on the board, bringing FSU within one at 9-8. Sophomore Emilee Weakley dropped four points, followed by four combined from Tate and freshman Grace Middleton, but the Yellow Jackets outscored Frostburg to round out the quarter, allowing WVSU to lead 21-16 after one.

Both teams struggled to keep the ball and get shots off to start the second, as Muha put the ball in the basket for the first points of the quarter just over a minute in. A jumper from Weakley brought the score to 21-20 before the Yellow Jackets knocked down a jumper to go up by three. WVSU found themselves up 27-22, before an and-one from Muha brought the game back within two. At the 5:30 mark, Weakley hit a three from deep, giving the Bobcats their first lead of the game 28-27. Leads were exchanged as the Yellow Jackets didn't let FSU have the lead for long, until a three from graduate Maggie Sharp and five straight points from Weakley pushed Frostburg ahead 36-30. Junior Jasmine Johnson finished off the half with a perfect two-for-two trip from the free throw line, giving FSU a 44-37 advantage at the break.

The Yellow Jackets opened scoring in the third, connecting on a quick three to make a dent in Frostburg's lead. Both teams traded buckets back and forth, until a trey from Sharp put the Bobcats back up by seven 49-42. WVSU continued to get within four, until a jumper from Tate put FSU up by six. The Yellow Jackets were aggressive to round out the quarter, going on a 10-0 run and taking a 60-57 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter.

WVSU kept their momentum going in the fourth, scoring the first basket of the quarter, before a free throw from Weakley scored the Bobcats' first point in around five minutes. Sharp converted again from behind the arc, bringing the game to 64-61 with 8:34 left to go in the game. A one-for-two trip at the free throw line from Weakley and a three pointer from Sharp brought Frostburg within two, but the Yellow Jacket responded with a three of their own to increase the lead to five. Johnson and Middleton scored back-to-back layups to bring FSU within one, but WVSU responded right away again on offense to go up by three. The Yellow Jackets buried two free throws and Sharp knocked down another three to bring the Bobcats back within two once more with 2:14 left in regulation. WVSU knocked down a jumper on the next possession and was able to keep in front while knocking down their free throws to end the game, giving Frostburg the 85-79 loss.

Weakley led all scorers with 27 points and eight rebounds, while Sharp finished five-for-seven from behind the arc for 17 points. Muha finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Tate put up 10 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

With the loss, FSU moves to 4-3 on the season, while WVSU also goes to 4-3. The Bobcats will stay on the road to face Concord on Wednesday, December 6 at 5:30 PM. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.