Women's Basketball Can't Overcome First Quarter Deficit in Road Loss to Cardinals

WHEELING, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team could not overcome their first quarter deficit on Saturday afternoon, dropping their road game to Wheeling by a final score of 67-52. 
 
Both teams missed their opening shot of the game, before Wheeling was fouled and sent to the line for two, sinking both for the first points of the contest.  Senior Jasmine Johnson got Frostburg on the board on the next trip down the court, after getting the offensive board and going right back up for an easy two.  The Cardinals took the next five points for a 7-2 score, before graduate Sarah Shamdeen split a trip from the foul line to add another point for the Bobcats.  WU continued to be just one step ahead of FSU, converting their chances on the offense end, as senior Emilee Weakley put in a layup for a 11-5 five game right under the five minute mark.  Wheeling rallied for a 12-1 run to end the quarter, as the Bobcats struggled to put the ball in the basket, allowing Frostburg to trial 23-6 after one. 
 
The Cardinals sunk a trey to begin action in the second, increasing their lead to 26-6.  FSU put up their first points of the quarter just over two minutes in, when senior Taylor Smith got in on the offensive action with a fastbreak layup in the paint.  WU continued to roll, as freshman Julie Spinelli rallied for five straight points off a layup inside and a three from deep.  Frostburg was able to cut the game to almost 15, but Wheeling surged for seven consecutive points to built their advantage to 37-13.  Smith went two-for-two from the charity stripe to show some life for FSU, as that sparked a 7-2 for the Bobcats to end the quarter with a 39-20 score, with freshman Ayla Hileman and Weakly contributing points to end the half. 
 
Both teams struggled to start the second half, as WU laid in the first bucket of the third, before both teams went silent for almost five minutes.  Each team struggled to shoot and take care of the ball, as each team was credited with a steal.  Just under the six minute mark, Weakley dribbled through the middle for an easy lay-in for Frostburg's first points of the quarter.  The Cardinals responded with a layup of their own, before Smith and Spinelli both saw an easy two inside as well.  Shamdeen sunk a trey to see the score at 45-29, before Spinelli sunk a triple for a 46-32 game just a few seconds later.  WU showed five points in response, knocking down a three on the other end to answer right back.  Smith hit a mid-range jumper to finish out the third, putting the game at 51-34.
 
Sophomore Alanna Tate scooped in a layup for FSU to kick off the fourth.  WU marched down and laid in a tip-in for their first points of the quarter, before both teams went on to swap back-to-back twos.  Neither team saw a score for almost a minute, until Weakley swapped layups with WU in the paint for the score to read 57-40.  A three from the Cardinals put the game at 60-40 with 5:23 left in regulation, as Wheeling connected on five more straight points to move the game to 65-40.  Tate knocked down a jumper for another score, before Spinelli connected from deep and Smith drove in for an easy bucket, all for a 65-45 contest with 2:47 left to play.  Spinelli hit another three from deep, before freshman Laekyn Flinn saw a jumper from mid-range to sit the final score at 67-52 as time finished out. 
 
Spinelli led the way for FSU with 17 points and five rebounds, while Smith was the only other Bobcat in double digits with 12 points, three rebounds, and two assists.  Weakley led the team in rebounds with eight, while Johnson and Tate also contributed five each. 
 
With the loss, Frostburg moves to 9-5 on the season, while Wheeling goes to 7-7.  The Bobcats remain on the road for their next contest, facing Salem on Wednesday, January 15 at 5:30 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.