FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team dropped their home game to West Virginia State on Wednesday evening by a score of 107-88.
The Yellow Jackets won the tip but missed the initial basket, while sophomore Emilee Weakley secured the defensive rebound and turned it into a layup 2-0. West Virginia State shot the ball just short or the rim falling into the hands of freshman Jenna Muha, who found freshman Grace Middleton on the run, being fouled on her layup and knocking down two from the free throw line, then good defensive play turned into another WVSU missed shot, as Weakley put the Bobcats up 6-0 at the other end. The Yellow Jackets answered back with two three-point plays to tie the game at six apiece, then took the lead after a made floater 8-6. Graduate Maggie Sharp knocked down her first three of the day to take back the lead, but with under five minutes to play, the Yellow Jackets regained a one-point lead after a good lay-up. Junior Jasmine Johnson checked into the game and immediately brought down a rebound, with some good ball movement leaving Wakley wide open for two. Throwing the ball in and beating the defense WVSU had a fast two as the teams went back-and-forth. FSU went up by three as freshman Alanna Tate weaved her way through for a right-handed layup 15-12. On the other end of the court a foul was calledm sending WVSU to the line, adding one to their score before forcing a turnover in the middle of the court and converting a three-point play to take the lead once more 16-15. A lead switch occurred after FSU hit back-to-back shots 19-16, but WVSU had the last nine points of the quarter to move ahead 25-19.
The Yellow Jackets had a three within the first three seconds of the second quarter before freshman Mandy Roman kept the deficit to within seven. A missed WVSU layup turned into another three for Sharp to get within four, but the Yellow Jackets returned with a three of their own to put them up 31-24. Middleton had back-to-back layups, putting FSU down three 31-28. Again, the teams traded buckets, with Sharp and Weakley putting the score at 36-33. Junior Harley Herndon added to the score after sinking a free throw to get within a bucket, though WVSU scored the next two baskets until Weakley took it to the rim 40-36. After a media timeout, WVSU was awarded a foul and made both, but Sharp hit another three to keep it close at 42-39. With under four to play, both teams scored seven points; Weakley contributing two, graduate Ciara Thomas with two and Sharp with another three, with West Virginia State consistently finding an answer to into halftime winning 49-46.
Tate had the first layup of the third to get within one but WVSU instantly replied up 51-48. Similar plays happen down the stretch with baskets traded by the respective teams. Forcing turnovers and missed shots, the Yellow Jackets went up to a twelve-point lead until Tate brought it back down to nine 64-55. The Yellow Jackets went on an eight-point run, which gave them their greatest lead so far at 72-55. Sharp swooshed in another three and Tate contributed a layup with less than four to play to pull back within 12. Three threes for WVSU compared to FSU's six points from Roman, Tate and junior MacKenzie Freeze gave the Yellow Jackets an 81-66 lead with a minute left to play, where the only score was West Virginia State going two-for-two from the line to lead 83-66.
Weakly started the fourth knocking down two free-throws, but WVSU created five quick points, answered back by a three from Freeze and a layup from Weakley 88-73. Four points in two minutes put WVSU up 92-73, as Muha's next four points were matched another three from WVSU to maintain a 17-point advantage. FSU pressed, causing a turnover, sending Weakley to the line knocking down two freebies, then a similar play sent Middleton to the line with the score at 97-81. Five points for WVSU sent them into triple digits up by 21, as FSU broke the press and found Muha wide open under the basket. A scoreless minute dragged on until Thomas found an offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback for a 102-84 score. Points were traded by the two teams but ultimately WVSU put more away, taking the game 107-88, making 15 three-pointers on the day.
Three Bobcats finished in double-digits: Weakley (27), Sharp (18) and Tate (12). Weakley led the team with four steals and six rebounds, while Sharp finished 6-of-9 from deep. Muha, Sharp and Thomas tied with five rebounds apiece.
With the conclusion of today's game, FSU falls to an overall record of 12-9 and a conference record of 9-5 while WVSU moves to 13-8 and a conference record of 9-5. Women's Basketball is back in action on Saturday, February 10 as they face the University of Charleston (WV) on the road with a start time of 2 pm. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.
