FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team defeated Concord in the final seconds by a score of 83-81 on Saturday afternoon in a huge MEC conference matchup that concluded Frostburg's season sweep of Concord.
Concord won the jump but missed the three that followed. Sophomore Emilie Weakley brought down the rebound and took it coast-to-coast to put the Bobcats on the board 2-0. On the next play, the Mountain Lions put up a hook shot to tie it 2-2. FSU broke the press from CU, as Weakley found freshman Grace Middleton for a five-foot jumper and a 4-2 lead. Freshman Jenna Muha then drew a foul, sending her to the line, knocking down two to go up 6-2. Concord had back-to-back baskets, tying the game at six apiece. Middleton made her way up the court and found graduate Maggie Sharp for a routine three and a 9-6 game. A foul on FSU only allowed the Bobcats to be up by one 9-8. Middleton found another assist, as Muha hit another layup to increase Frostburg's lead to11-8. Another FSU foul allowed for CU to earn an easy two to get within one, 11-10. Off an offensive rebound, Muha put FSU up three 13-10. Ana Young tied the game back up at 13 after she hit a three for Concord. Weakley found another layup before the Mountain Lions scored the next five and took the lead 18-15. Muha kicked the ball to Weakley for an open three and a tie game 18-18. With under three to play in the first, freshman Alanna Tate acquired her first basket after a CU jumper, to tie the game again, this time 20-20. The Mountain Lions scored the last five points of the quarter to go into the second up 25-20.
Sharp with a steal at halfcourt, allowed for Weakley to be wide open for two to bring the Bobcats within three, 25-22. A minute passed before junior Jasmine Johnson had an offensive rebound and basket combo for a 25-24 game. FSU's defense forced Concord into a quick three, which resulted in a right-handed layup for graduate Ciara Thomas and a 26-25 FSU lead. Leads continued to change, as the Mountain Lions converted on a layup to take back the lead 27-26. Johnson, off an assist from junior MacKenzie Freeze, regained the lead for FSU 28-27. FSU caused a turnover which led to a two for Freeze, increasing Frostburg's lead to 30-27. A missed jumper and a foul sent Weakley to the line to sink two for a 32-27 score. Middleton earned her fourth assist as Freeze hit a fifteen-foot jumper for a 34-27 game. CU scored seven points compared to Frostburg's two, as FSU led 36-34 with under two minutes to play in the second. Baskets were traded and the game was tied at 40 apiece going into halftime.
It took a second for things to get rolling to start the second half, as back-to-back baskets were had by the respective teams to keep the game tied. CU earned themselves a four-point lead after a layup and an earned turnover that led to an easy layup. Weakley cut Concord's lead to two, taking it rim to rim to bring the game to 46-44. The Mountain Lions took their greatest lead 52-44 with just over three minutes into the third. Freshman Mandy Roman checked in and immediately saw a layup to bring the game to 52-46. FSU pressured the ball, allowing Middleton to earn her third steal of the game and a layup for a 52-48 score. On the following play, CU missed a layup, with Muha bringing down the board. From Muha, to Middleton, to Weakley, the Bobcats were within two 52-50. CU went back up by six after four straight free throws. Weakley and Roman combined for the next nine points, as FSU took a 59-58 lead. Thomas was then sent to the line, twice, going four-for-four, as FSU was up 66-62 going into the fourth.
Frostburg came out with the ball to start the fourth, as Middleton quickly put the Bobcats up 70-62. CU came within two, after scoring on multiple plays. Weakley responded, knocking down another three to go up by five 73-68. CU was able to secure the lead once again after being sent to the line a few times, cutting in front 74-73. Two buckets by Weakley allowed FSU to be back on top 77-74. Tate then scored four straight points herself, compared to CU's five, as FSU led 81-79. With 30 seconds to go, CU tied the game 81-81. FSU called a timeout with three seconds on the clock. Off the inbound, Weakley went one-on-one, and as the defense helped, she dished it off to Roman for a wide open and easy right-handed layup to go up 83-81. With 1.7 seconds left on the clock, Concord tried to inbound the ball, but Johnson denied the pass, as FSU came out on top 83-81.
Weakley led FSU with 34 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Middleton, Muha, and Johnson all finished with eight apiece, as Middleton led with six steals and seven assists.
With the conclusion of this game, Frostburg improves to an overall record of a 12-8 and a conference record of 7-4, as Concord falls to an overall record of 10-9 and a conference record of 7-6. The Bobcats are back in action on Wednesday, February 7 as they take on West Virginia State in Bobcat Arena at 5:30 PM. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.
