FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team won 60-51 against Point Park for their Week of Wishes Game on Saturday afternoon.

The first three minutes of the game didn't feature much offense, as the Pioneers began things with a jumper before sophomore Ayla Hileman hit one of her own and found classmate Julie Spinelli in the paint for a lay-in, with a split trip to the line from the visitors making the score 4-3 in favor of FSU. A minute later, after a freshman Zaria Gaskins steal, Spinelli landed a three and junior Jenna Muha shot two from the line between a Point Park triple to take a 9-6 lead. As the three-minute mark passed, PPU hit a layup and a three either side of a Muha basket to even the score, then took a two-point lead on another drive to the cup. The Bobcats were able to recover and end the period on a high note, as Roman found Spinelli down low before getting a steal and driving for a baseline layup with less than a minute to go, taking a 15-13 advantage into the second.

PPU started the next frame swiftly, netting back-to-back threes in the first minute before Roman sank a jumper and sophomore Laekyn Flinn found Spinelli for a trey to put FSU back ahead 20-19. After five unanswered from Point Park, Spinelli fed Hileman for a triple, drove to the rim herself, and passed again to Flinn for a basket in trying to get some separation up 27-24. The Pioneers had other ideas, going on a 7-0 run through the next three minutes to go ahead 31-27. In the final two and a half minutes, the lone score would come from junior Riley Nelson notching a floater in the lane, ending the half with Frostburg only down by two in a 31-29 score.

Point Park started off the third as they had begun the second, with a quick three, however Spinelli quickly answered after being fed by freshman Ella Sabatos. Both teams then went scoreless for nearly three minutes before PPU drove inside to go back up by five. Another scoreless two minutes elapsed before Hileman found redshirt freshman Sophie Nichols in the corner for a three, which breaking a near-five-minute Bobcat drought. The Pioneers kept generating offense through the next two minutes, scoring on their next three trips down the floor, but Nichols and Nelosn were able to stay within touching distance at 42-39, the former nailing another from behind the arc on a Sabatos pass and the latter hitting another push shot after being found by Spinelli. Nichols converted her third trey of the period with Nelson assisting, while Point Park ended the frame with a putback basket to stay ahead 45-42 headed to the final period.

For the first time in the afternoon, the Bobcats scored the first points of the quarter, as Nichols went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe, as PPU landed a basket before Flinn found Spinelli once again for a layup, cutting within 47-46 after the opening two minutes. Frostburg's defense stifled the Pioneers from that point, holding the visitors scoreless for over five minutes. Nelson helped drive that effort with a couple of steals 30 seconds apart, while offensively, Flinn got fouled on three trips, making 5-of-6 from the line, as Nelson found Spinelli from deep to hold a 54-47 advantage. Following another PPU empty trip on offense, Nichols dished to Flinn down low before knocking down a pair of freebies to take a double-digit lead at 58-47. Point Park finally broke their seal on the basket with just over three minutes to go but couldn't score on either of their next two trips. Entering the final 90 seconds, Spinelli found the net one more time, going baseline for a strong finish, as the Pioneers made a jumper in response but wouldn't get another bucket, allowing FSU to come away with a 60-51 win.

Spinelli recorded a double-double on the day, leading all players on 21 points and 10 rebounds, while also tying Hileman for a team-high three assists. Nichols (13) also recorded double-digit figures, including going 3-for-4 from behind the arc, while Gaskins and Nelson combined for four steals in the defensive effort. 

With the win, Frostburg improves to 13-13 as PPU falls to 7-17 on the year. The Bobcats are back at home on Wednesday, February 25, for Senior Day as they face Davis & Elkins at 5:30 pm. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.