Weakley and Sharp Combine for 10 Threes as Women's Basketball Takes Down Salem on the Road
SALEM, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team defeated the Salem Tigers on the road by a score of 74-53 on Saturday afternoon.
Coming off a conference win, FSU brought the same energy to today's contest. Off an assist from senior MacKenzie Freeze, sophomore Emilee Weakley knocked down a three within the first 10 seconds of the game. Elena Pericic responded with a shot behind the arc for Salem to tie the game 3-3. Freshman Alana Tate drew in the defense, made a pass to Weakley, who hit her second three, for a 6-3 Frostburg lead. A steal was caused on the Bobcat's defensive end by freshman Jenna Muha, as an offensive rebound by Tate gave her her first two points of the game for an 8-3 game. On the opposite end of the court, Emerson Wells had an open layup in the paint bringing the score to 8-5. To answer back, graduate Maggie Sharp hit a long step-back two to bring the game to 10-5. The Tigers were able to get within one, 15-14, with less than four minutes to play. Freshman Grace Middleton subbed in and immediately found herself with an offensive rebound and layup for a 17-14 score. Weakley and Middleton scored the final five points of the quarter allowing FSU to lead 22-14 going into the second.
It took over two minutes for action to start in the second quarter, as Weakley hit an unassisted shot from behind the arc to extend the Bobcats lead to 25-14. Junior Jasmine Johnson secured a defensive rebound and found Weakley running the floor, who stopped for a 15-foot jumper and a 27-14 game. Salem missed a driving layup as junior Harley Herndon was there to catch the rebound, pushing the ball to Sharp, who then found Weakley outside the three point line to knock down, yet again, another three. After five minutes, the Tigers found their first points of the quarter, when Wells' layup was good for a 30-16 score. Pericic continued the scoring for Salem, grabbing an offensive rebound and putting it back up to bring the game to 30-18. Back on the offensive end, Johnson was fouled and went two-for-two from the free-throw line. Weakley, Sharp and Muha scored the next 12 points for FSU compared to Salem's two points over the stretch, as the Bobcats led 44-22 going into halftime. Â
Weakley earned an offensive rebound and put back to start the second half for a 46-22 game. After a missed jumper by the Tigers, Tate grabbed a rebound and found Freeze for an open layup and 48-22 score. Salem found their first points of the half two minutes in to bring the game to 50-24. Weakley was fouled driving to the basket, going two-for-two from the line, adding two more points to the Bobcats lead. A scoreless minute for both teams dragged on until the Tigers capitalized on five consecutive scoring opportunities to bring the score to 52-36. FSU, not seeing points for four minutes, was saved by freshman Jenna Liska checking in, stopping the scoring drought right away, scoring a layup off an assist from Herndon. Liska found herself with an offensive rebound and kicked it out to graduate Ciara Thomas, who saw her first points of the game to increase Frostburg's lead to 56-36. Salem outscored FSU in the third quarter, but the Bobcats kept a 56-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Â
The Tigers were first to sink a three to start the final quarter of the game, bringing the score to 56-43. After a missed layup and personal foul, Salem was sent to the free-throw line, connecting on both free throws, cutting FSU's lead down to 56-45. Moments later, Weakley earned two assists as she found Sharp for back-to-back threes adding to Frostburg's lead 62-45. To answer back, Pericic found herself sinking a three for a 62-48 score. Running down the court, Middleton went coast-to-coast dropping in a layup for a 64-48 game. Off Muha's rebound, Middleton went down the court once more, this time for a jumper and a 66-48 Bobcat lead. After a long game of traded points, Frostburg came out on top defeating Salem 74-53.
Weakley (28), Sharp (14) and Middleton (10) all finished scoring in double-digits, with Weakley and Sharp combining for 10-for-19 from deep. Tate pulled down 11 rebounds and tied Sharp with four assists each, while Middleton led the team with two steals.
With the conclusion of today's game, Frostburg moves to an overall record of 9-7 while Salem falls to an overall record of 3-13. The Bobcats are back home on Wednesday, January 24 as they host West Virginia Wesleyan in an MEC conference matchup starting at 5:30 PM. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.
