BUCKHANNON, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team lost their MEC opener 89-58 to West Virginia Wesleyan on the road Wednesday.
 
FSU got the scoring started with sophomore Ayla Hileman coasting in for a layup while junior Jenna Muha split a trip to the line before back-to-back WVWC buckets put the hosts up 4-3 after two minutes. Hileman then got into the lane for a jumper, while freshman Zaria Gaskins had a steal-and-score before the sides traded buckets through an and-one and a layup by Wesleyan and scores by sophomore Julie Spinelli and Muha that put Frostburg ahead 11-9. WVWC then locked in defensively, holding FSU scoreless for three minutes while netting a trio of jumpers to move up 15-11 with three minutes to go. Redshirt freshman Sophie Nichols ended the drought with a three, as neither side could get much more offense late on, leaving Wesleyan with a 15-14 lead after one.
 
The hosts came out strong to begin the second frame, as it took two and a half minutes for FSU to get on the board, while WVWC scored six in a row to lead 21-14. Muha had the first Frostburg basket, then senior Caitlyn Sullivan answered an and-one with a layup to cut the deficit to six. Wesleyan wouldn't let up on the defensive end, as FSU went another three minutes without a point, while another six went in on the other side for a 30-18 advantage. Hileman sparked a response with just over three to go, netting back-to-back jumpers while Spinelli hit a trey and Gaskins made one at the line to pull back within six. In the final minute, The sides traded scores, as WVWC hit a layup and a long two, while Sullivan converted a chance at the stripe with a 36-28 score at the break.
 
Muha got the first bucket of the third after being found under the rim by Gaskins, while Wesleyan got some distance through a jumper and a triple before Spinelli got back to within single digits on a putback at 41-32. As had been the case in each of the previous two quarters, Frostburg struggled to score the ball at the midway point, going over three minutes without a basket, as WVWC hit a three, a pair of freebies, and a layup to lead by 16. Redshirt sophomore Riley Nelson provided a pair of assists in hopes of getting back into the game, finding Nichols for a three and freshman Ella Sabatos for a layup, as a Spinelli mid-range got FSU back within 48-40. Wesleyan would swiftly end any comeback attempts, controlling the final three and a half minutes with five layups, including a pair of and-ones and a deep make to surge ahead 63-42.
 
Nichols added another triple while Muha got into the lane for a make, however WVWC responded each time to maintain a 25-point lead. The advantage grew up to 77-47 as another scoring drought was ended by Muha on redshirt sophomore Mandy Roman's assist, with the latter also splitting a trip to the line. Sophomore Sydney Snyder made a late impact off the bench, impressing with a couple of threes while classmate Laekyn Flinn added a jumper, with the final reading 89-58 at the buzzer.
 
Muha led FSU on the day with 13 points, nine rebounds, including four offensively, and a steal.
 
With the loss, Frostburg drops to 3-4 on the year while Wesleyan improves to 2-1. FSU will remain on the road to face Davis & Elkins on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.