Third Quarter Surge Allows Women's Basketball to Run Away From Salem

SALEM, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team used the second half to push in front of Salem on Wednesday evening, coming out on top with a final score of 72-47.
 
Both teams saw a slow start to the offensive end, with each team missing their first few shots of the game, and each coughing up a turnover as well.  Almost three minutes in, Salem struck first on a jumper, as almost a minute later Frostburg was finally able to get on the board, with senior Emilee Weakley sinking two free throws from the line.  The Tigers knotted another jumper on their next trip down the floor, before both teams went dry again for around two minutes.  Weakley was able to get a bucket in the paint off a fastbreak, before connecting on a three from deep after freshman Julie Spinelli was credited with a steal on the defensive end.  After another quiet two minutes, Spinelli laid in her first points of the game for a 9-4 contest, as each team added another basket to their score as the first quarter winded out, with senior Taylor Smith putting the score at 11-6 after two more free throws for the Bobcats. 
 
FSU came out hot to start the second, hitting their first two shots off a layup from sophomore Alanna Tate and a three from freshman Ayla Hileman.  Weakley and Spinelli continued Frostburg's run with layups of their own for a 20-6 game, before SU finally got on the board in the quarter just less than three minutes in.  Both teams swapped shots as time went on, putting the score at 24-13 around the midway mark, when senior Jasmine Johnson was credited with basket underneath.  Another layup from Tate kept FSU ahead by double digits, until Salem sunk a three to see the game at 26-18.  A quick layup off a steal brought the Tigers within six, before another easy two from Tate pushed the game to an eight point differential.  SU connected on the final points of the quarter, sitting the game at a tight score of 28-24 at the break. 
 
Graduate Sarah Shamdeen knocked down two free throws to begin the third, before hitting a trey from deep on Frostburg's next trip down the court.  The Tigers kept the game within five early on in the quarter, before two free throws of their own moved the game to 33-30.  The Bobcats had had enough, kicking off an 11-0 run with a trio of triples from Smith and Weakley.  FSU advanced their lead to 44-30 over the span of two minutes, until Salem was given a layup in the paint.  Frostburg wasn't done yet, as Weakley sparked a 10-2 run from the Bobcats to end the third up 54-34. 
 
SU was able to scoop in the first layup of the fourth, as Tate and Spinelli both responded with a layup of their own.  Weakley continued to pour in the points, as Spinelli connected on a three, helping FSU build their lead to 25.  Hileman connected on a jumper for a 70-43 score, before getting her own offensive rebound underneath on the Bobcats' next possession, and laying in another easy bucket for two more points.  Salem fought for the last points of the night, bringing the score to a 72-47 final. 
 
Weakley led all scorers with 24 points on 10-for-20 shooting, while also grabbing a game-high nine rebounds.  Tate was next with 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting, while Smith was also in double digits with 10 points.  Smith dished out a game-high four assists and grabbed five rebounds, while Spinelli provided nine points and four rebounds.
 
With the win, Frostburg moves to 10-5 on the season, while Salem falls to 1-14.  The Bobcats return home for their next contest, welcoming in Point Park on Saturday, January 18 at 2 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.