Women's Basketball 2024-25 Season Preview
FROSTBURG, Md. – Frostburg State Athletics will be taking a preview for each team competing in the Winter season, covering six total sports. Throughout the week, each team will continue to be broken down into their expectations, key players, and overall outlook for their season and program. To kickoff the final week is Women's Basketball.
Overall
Frostburg State Women's Basketball is set to play their 61st season this winter for the 2024-25 academic and athletic year. Head Coach Jenna Eckleberry returns for her third year at the helm of the program, as she welcomes almost an entire new staff to assist her in the process, with former player Maggie Sharp serving as the assistant coach, Paul Keeney joining the team as the graduate assistant, and Will Leckonby coming back for his second season as a volunteer assistant.
Last Season
FSU is coming off a historic season, as Eckleberry took the program to new heights in the 2023-24 year. The Bobcats finished with an 18-11 overall record a season ago, for the most wins for the program since the 2009-10 season and the most since joining Division II. The team captured 14 wins in the MEC last year for a 14-6 conference record, finishing third overall in the conference. As a sophomore, Emilee Weakly earned a well-deserving MEC Player of the Year honor, as well as a First Team All-MEC distinction, with Sharp being named to the All-MEC Second Team, and Jenna Muha receiving All-MEC Honorable Mention. Weakley led the conference in scoring for the second consecutive season averaging 25.4 ppg, while Sharp, in her final season, set the program's single game (8) and single season (80) three-pointers made record, as both players reached their 1,000 point career mark. Rounding out another outstanding season on the court, Weakley went on to be named D2CCA First Team All-Region, WBCA All-American Honorable Mention, and D2CCA Second Team All-American. On the academic side, Weakley was named CSC Second Team Academic All-American, while her, Sharp, and Mackenzie Freeze all earned CSC Academic All-District honors. Rounding out the accolades, Eckleberry capped off the season with a MEC Coach of the Year distinction.
The Returners
Looking to continue what they started last season, Eckleberry welcomes back a majority of her roster from the 2023-24 squad, after Sharp, Ciara Thomas, and Freeze rounded out their fantastic Bobcat careers. Weakley comes back for her final season as a senior, already having been named a top-10 DII player to watch by the NCAA. Joining her in the senior class is captain Harley Herndon, Jasmine Johnson, and Sa'Niyah Council. With no juniors on the roster, Eckleberry has a strong sophomore class returning, with most putting up solid minutes in their freshman debut, as Muha, Alanna Tate, and Grace Middleton all come back, with all three seeing a starting role last season, along with Mandy Roman, Riley Nelson, and Oliva Looker returning as well.
The Newcomers
Eckleberry is ecstatic to add a strong number of players to the mix as well, in a freshman class of five, along with two transfers. Nadia Simpson, Sydney Snyder, and Ayla Hileman join the team as freshman guards, while Laekyn Flinn and Julie Spinelli will serve as the freshman forwards. Sarah Shamdeen joins the Bobcats as a graduate guard from Washington Adventist, as senior guard Taylor Smith joins the team from a MEC foe in Davis & Elkins.
Kick Off to Season
Coming in as a top-10 team in the D2CSC Atlantic Region Preseason Rankings, Frostburg kicks off their season tomorrow, November 8 in the Jim Crawley Conference Challenge, where the team faces Winston-Salem State at 7 PM in Bobcat Arena. FSU then concludes their time in the tournament on Saturday, November 9 at 3 PM when they face Pitt-Johnstown. The Bobcats go on to continue their season with a two-game home slate welcoming in Lock Haven and Seton Hill (Pa.) on Wednesday, November 13 and Saturday, November 16, before their first road contest of the season on Tuesday, November 19 against Bowie State. Frostburg will open MEC play on Saturday, November 23 at 2 PM when the team welcomes Davis & Elkins to the court.
For more information and upcoming previews, please visit frostburgsports.com.
Latest Top Stories
- Weakley Selected as MEC Women's Basketball Co-Player of the WeekSenior Emilee Weakley earned the first MEC Women's Basketball Co-Player of the Week honor to start the season, as the award is presented by The Health Plan and was announced by the league office on Monday.
- Marcucci Earns MEC Football Special Teams Player of the WeekRedshirt sophomore Jordan Marcucci was named MEC Football Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season, as the award was announced on Monday by the league office and is presented by The Health Plan.
- Leitzel, Bonhivert Named PSAC Second Team All-ConferenceThe Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced their Field Hockey All-Conference awards on Monday morning, with junior Paige Letizel and graduate Emilie Bonhivert each earning a spot on the PSAC Second Team.
- Mottola, Cacek Place in Adrian InviteThe Frostburg State Women's Wrestling team concluded their weekend road trip with the Adrian College Women's Invite on Sunday where the team finished 16th out of over 30 competitors.
- Men's Basketball Drops Final Game of Bobcat Classic to Close Out Opening WeekendThe Frostburg State Men's Basketball team fell in their final game of the Bobcat Classic with an 85-46 loss to Seton Hill (Pa.) on Sunday afternoon.
- Quintero Rivas Nets Brace, Foret Secures Shutout in Men's Soccer QF VictoryJunior Carlos Quintero Rivas scored once early and once late on to power the Frostburg State Men's Soccer team to a 2-0 home win over West Liberty in the opening round of the MEC Tournament.