FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team snapped their two-game skid and will be heading into the holiday break with a win as they beat Charleston (WV) 66-60 at home Thursday night. 

After a quiet two minutes produced little offense, the Bobcats got the scoring started when sophomore Julie Spinelli netted a three quickly followed by a jump shot from classmate Ayla Hileman of freshman Ella Sabatos' steal for quick 5-0 lead. The Golden Eagles responded with a four-point play with a made triple and a free throw before back-to-back layups from redshirt sophomore Mandy Roman and Spinelli restored FSU's five-point lead at the midway point of the period. Over the next 90 seconds, the sides traded scores back-and-forth, with UC getting a putback, a deep make, and back-to-back layups, while Frostburg scored through a lay-in by Spinelli and a three from redshirt freshman Sophie Nichols to take maintain their lead at 14-13. The same passage of play would continue for the final two minutes, as Spinelli converted at the line while Charleston hit a trey, then senior Caitlyn Sullivan put in a baseline jumper and Natalie Smith got into the lane for the visitors to end the frame tied at 18-18.  

The sides each started the second period scoring with free throws, as Nichols made a pair, followed by the Golden Eagles splitting their trip, then Sullivan hit a jumper and Spinelli made a layup, putting the Bobcats ahead 24-19. Charleston then locked down defensively, holding FSU without a point for over five minutes, hitting a trio of threes in the process to surge ahead 32-24. Roman broke the scoring drought with a much-needed triple, as this time it was Frostburg's turn to dominate defensively, holding UC without a score for the final three and a half minutes. Redshirt sophomore Riley Nelson closed out the half with a great pass inside to Spinelli, who drove to the rim to shrink the deficit to three heading into the second half down 32-29.

Charleston earned the first points of the third frame on a layup, but over the next three minutes Frostburg caught fire offensively. Hileman hit a smooth jumper in the lane then came up with a steal and was found by freshman Zaria Gaskins from deep, while Roman then fed Spinelli for the same to flip the advantage in the Bobcats' favor 37-34. Through the next four minutes, each side only managed one bucket apiece before things picked up again in the final three of the period. Charleston scored a fastbreak lay-in before Nichols fed an and-one for sophomore Laekyn Flinn, who in turn found Nelson for a floating jump shot, growing the lead to 44-38. Each team had a pair of freebies in the last minute and a half, followed by a lay-in from UC and Spinelli netting one-of-two from the charity stripe, ending the third with the Bobcats on top 47-42.

Frostburg's defense again came out strong in the fourth, holding the Golden Eagles scoreless for the first three minutes, as Nelson netted a layup and Sabatos found Nichols for a three to increase the lead to double digits at 52-42. Charleston finally found their rhythm offensively, netting two tip-ins and a split trip to the line to pull back within seven. Nichols responded by sinking a layup before Spinelli found Sabatos in the paint, however a pair of threes from the Golden Eagles kept them within five heading to the final four minutes. FSU again was able to generate some stops defensively, holding UC to one field goal over a three-minute stretch, as Hileman had a great dish to Sabatos, while a clutch block by Nichols allowed Spinelli to convert at the line for a 62-55 advantage. Still fighting for a late comeback, Charleston knocked in a pair at the stripe before hitting a layup in transition after Gaskins split her trip to the line, making it a four-point game with 22 seconds on the clock. Hileman knocked in a pair of clutch free throws as UC wasn't able to take full advantage of theirs, only making one, however Roman did the same with 15 left at a six-point lead. A desperation three missed the rim entirely, as Spinelli converted the final two foul shots as the Golden Eagles couldn't manage a late score, resulting in the 68-60 final.

Spinelli led the team offensively with 21 points, as well as on the defensive end with a pair of blocks and steals. Nichols followed with 14 points and a team-high three assists, while Sabatos was a force on the boards with a game-high 10 rebounds.

With the win, the Bobcats improve to 5-6 as Charleston falls to 5-5. FSU is back in action on the road Saturday, January 3, as they face West Virginia State at 2 P.M. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com