WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – The Frostburg State women's basketball team won on the road at West Liberty. The Bobcats defeated the Hilltoppers 65-60.

After WLU got things started on a made three, the Bobcats looked inside to start the game, finding junior Jenna Muha for three buckets in the paint, as she also assisted sophomore Julie Spinelli and freshman Zaria Gaskins drove in for a 10-5 advantage. The Hilltoppers broke a three-minute scoring drought before Muha took two foul shots, as for the final four-and-a-half minutes, the only points for either team would come from a West Liberty layup and another Muha freebie to end the period with Frostburg leading 13-9.

Scoring continued to be slow for both teams early in the second quarter, as sophomore Laekyn Flinn passed down low to Muha to finish while redshirt freshman Sophie Nichols split at the line as the only points in the first three minutes, growing the lead to 16-9. After WLU ended the run with a lay-in, junior Mandy Roman knocked down two from the charity stipe for her first points of the game, however the hosts hit a three followed by a pair at the line to cut the deficit down to two. Spinelli and Roman combined to go four-of-four after a pair of fouls to go back up by six, however the Hilltoppers refused to go away with another trey and two more at the line to get within 22-21 with three minutes to go. Roman then got a much-needed putback to fall as Spinelli continued to take advantage of her foul shots, however the final momentum of the half would go to West Liberty, hitting a lay-in with 30 seconds left to pull within 26-23. 

Coming out of the break, FSU would lock down defensively and keep the Hilltoppers of the score sheet for the first seven minutes of the third quarter, building up an 18-point lead in the process. Muha and Roman combined for the first six points before sophomore Ayla Hileman would have back-to-back buckets as well as a Spinelli triple for the Bobcats, making the score 41-23. West Liberty would finally score with just under three minutes on the clock, helping to spark an 8-4 run to end the quarter, using three layups and a couple free throws to get within 45-31. 

Redshirt sophomore Riley Nelson and Nichols would hit the first two shots to start the final quarter and go up 50-31, as again FSU's defense impressed with a scoreless first two minutes. The Hilltoppers got themselves going on a made three, but Muha answered right back with a tough and-one. From there, the sides went back-and-forth, as the Bobcat offense came largely at the stripe, with Spinelli and Muha combining to go six-for-six as a couple threes and a layup brought WLU's deficit down to 11. Desperate for a way back in, the Hilltoppers continued to foul, with Gaskins and Hileman going three-of-four before the hosts sparked some magic. With just over 90 seconds to play, a West Liberty layup was followed by a pair of Frostburg misses at the line and a turnover, while a three brought things to 62-53. After another turnover, a foul allowed another couple from the line, with the Bobcats splitting their next trip and turning it over again for a transition layup and a 63-57 score. The third turnover of the minute nearly brought the house down, however the attempted three was off target, as Spinelli was able to corral the rebound and draw the foul. Her and Roman were each able to split late trips, as a triple with eight seconds left wouldn't be enough for the Hilltoppers to pull of the miracle, with the final standing at 65-60. 

FSU was led by Muha's 20 points, including going 8-of-9 at the line, while Spinelli (14) and Roman (13) also joined her in double figures. Roman would finish with a team high nine rebounds while Spinelli, Hileman, and Nelson each nabbed two steals apiece. 

With the win, Frostburg moves to 7-6 on the year and 4-3 in the MEC with West Liberty falling to 5-7 and 2-3 in league play. The Bobcats will be back at home against Wheeling on Saturday, January 10 for a 2 PM tip-off. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.