FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State women's basketball team defeated the Wheeling Cardinals in Bobcat Arena on Saturday afternoon during a 61-55 defensive battle.
FSU hosted the contest as a part of its annual Pink Game in support of breast cancer awareness, as well as a celebration of Girls and Women in Sports Day.
Coming off a triple-double in her last game, senior Jasmine Johnson started the game off with a layup on a nice dish from graduate Sarah Shamdeen. WU answered at the other end, but FSU continued to work the ball through the paint with back-to-back scores from seniors Taylor Smith and Emilee Weakley to make the early score 6-2. After trading baskets back-and-forth, Wheeling then ran of nine straight points to take a 16-8 lead before sophomore Alanna Tate ended the run to make the game 16-10. An old-fashioned three from Weakley cut further into the deficit and would be the final score for either side over the final two minutes with things standing at 16-13 after 10.
The defensive intensity picked up in the second frame, with only three points being scored in the first four minutes, as Tate got to the rim and Weakley split a trip at the line. Another pair of freebies from Weakley gave the Bobcats a narrow lead, but Cardinals finally got on the board at the six-minute, scoring on three straight trips to go up 21-18. Both offenses ramped up with five scores in six total possessions, as Tate made back-to-back baskets followed by a three from Weakley and a lay-in from sophomore Grace Middleton. In the final minute, Smith sent a great pass to the baseline for Middleton to flip in, while at the other end WU made their way to the paint to end the half with Frostburg in the lead 29-27.
Weakley started the third period with another pair at the charity stripe, with Wheeling hitting right back on a layup. The Bobcats started to build a small cushion with Tate again going to the cup and Shamdeen converting an and-one to go up 36-29. Frostburg continued to lead the Cardinals by converting at the line, as the visitors got into early foul trouble, with Weakley and Smith combining to go five-of-six at the line, pushing the lead into double digits. Tate supplied a fantastic pass to freshman Julie Spinelli for an easy finish then showed up on the defensive end with a block. FSU finished the third with makes from Middleton and Weakley, as WU made a putback as the final score to head to the fourth with the Bobcats up 47-36 after outscoring the Cardinals 18-9.
Four empty possessions opened the fourth before Spinelli knocked down a three, but the Cardinals found a rhythm offensively, scoring on three straight trips to pull back within eight. Wheeling would apply the full court press to work back into the game, forcing a pair of Bobcat turnovers and taking advantage of an offensive rebound. Spinelli broke a nearly three-minute Frostburg field goal drought with another trey, making things 54-44 with five minutes to go. Over the next three minutes, however, the FSU lead had been reduced to four points after a pair of WU layups and a perfect trip to the line. In need of a bucket, Tate would come up big with a pass inside to Weakley, who was able to convert an old fashioned three-point play on a basket plus the foul. Frostburg was able to get stops on the Cardinals' next couple trips on offense, but weren't able to tack on any points, while the visitors came back down with a three to get back to a 57-53 game. After an FSU miss, WU had a chance to get within a one-possession game, but Smith swiped the ball and put it in Weakley's hands at the line, going two-for-two. A Bobcat foul allowed Wheeling to respond, as with 21 seconds left, Spinelli kept calm under pressure to maintain a six-point advantage, as WU couldn't do anything with their final hopes, ending things 61-55.
Weakly would lead the Bobcats in points and rebounds, picking up a double-double with 26 and 11, respectively. Tate (11) and Spinelli (10) also both had double-digit scoring efforts, while Smith led the team in assists and steals at three apiece. Getting things done at the charity stripe, FSU shot 18-of-21 from the line, as the defense held the Cardinals to just 8.3% from three in the game, their lowest performance of the season.
With the win, Frostburg moves to 15-9 on the season, with Wheeling falling to 13-11 overall. The Bobcats will host Salem (WV) on Wednesday, February, 19 for a 5:30 PM tipoff. For more information please visit frostburgsports.com.
