Women's Basketball Falls Just Short in Non-Conference Battle with Lock Haven

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team lost in a close non-conference match on Wednesday evening to Lock Haven by a 82-78 final. 
 
Both teams saw a slow start to the game, missing there first few shots each.  Frostburg recorded two offensive rebounds to start the game but were unable to connect on any putbacks.  On the defensive end, the Bobcats were able to create two turnovers, with sophomore Jenna Muha earning a block as well, as still no points were on the board after three minutes.  At the 6:37 mark, Lock Haven secured an offensive rebound and was able to convert the putback for the first score of the game.  Senior Emilee Weakley put FSU on the board around 30 seconds later with a 1-for-2 trip from the foul line.  The Bald Eagles then took the next four points to put them out in front 6-1.  The Bobcats started to add to their score with back-to-back layups from graduate Sarah Shamdeen, as Weakley and senior Taylor Smith also worked their way into the paint for a layup, bringing the score to 14-9 in favor of LHU after the first.
 
The Bald Eagles took the first points of the second off another putback, as Weakly found freshman Ayla Hileman outside the arch for a knock down three.  Both teams swapped buckets, before Weakley connected on a score in the paint, and sophomore Alanna Tate went perfect from the charity stripe to bring the Bobcats within two.  Lock Haven stayed in front at 22-20, before Shamdeen fed Hileman for another trey around the midway mark of the quarter to give Frostburg their first lead of the game at 23-22.  The Bald Eagles quickly retook their lead with a response from behind the arch as well, before two free throws from Weakley moved FSU back in front 27-25.  The game sat at a 27-27 tie for over a minute, before a free throw from Smith and another three from Hileman put Frostburg in the lead 31-29.  Freshman Julie Spinelli traded layups with LHU to end the half with the Bobcats on top 33-31. 
 
Lock Haven quickly tied the game up at 33 apiece to open the half, before Weakley stopped and popped a midrange jumper to put FSU back on top.  Forcing another tie at 35 was the Bald Eagles, but a Weakley three kept the crowd going, as the Bobcats once again retook the advantage.  LHU surged for seven straight points to take a four-point lead, until a three from Spinelli cut Frostburg's deficit to one.  Lock Haven took four more straight points to jump ahead, but Hileman was fouled on her next three point attempt, where she made all three free throws to see the game at 45-44.  Both teams continued to trade points, with LHU still holding on to their small lead, until a trey from deep by Smith tied the game at 49.  An and-one from senior Harley Herndon gave the Bobcats a 52-51 lead as the quarter winded out, but a three from the Bald Eagles put them right back on top.  Another deep range shot from Smith, followed by another layup from Spinelli, brought FSU within one to head into the fourth and final quarter down just 58-57. 
 
LHU was quick to add to their lead to open the fourth, before a tough bucket underneath from Muha brought the game to a one point differential.  Once again, the teams traded points and leads, with another three from Smith keeping Frostburg right there.  Muha converted two free throws to keep the Bobcats within one, before Weakley knocked down a huge three to soar FSU in front 67-65 with seven minutes left.  Muha laid in a bucket to increase the team's lead, but with just under 4:30 to play, Lock Haven was able to regain the advantage.  With now around 2:24 left in regulation, the Bald Eagles jumped in front by six, before another trey from Weakley allowed the score to read 76-73.  Lock Haven came out of a timeout and connected on another putback, but a layup in the paint from Smith kept it a three-point game.  With now under a minute, the Bobcats looked to foul, as LHU added one more point to their score to go up by four, before Weakley hit another three with 24 seconds left on the clock to bring the game to 79-78.  Out of a Bald Eagle timeout, FSU fouled, with Lock Haven again just making one free throw, as Frostburg took another timeout to draw up a play.  Frostburg was unable to get anything to go out of the timeout, forcing themselves to foul and get the ball back, as time ran out with Lock Haven on top 82-78. 
 
Weakley led all scorers with 27 points, grabbing 11 rebounds for her third straight double-double to open the season.  Smith was next with 17 points and a game-high six assists, as well as five rebounds.  Spinelli added seven points and six boards, while Muha finished with six points and four boards.  Hileman totaled 12 points off the bench, shooting 3-for-4 from three. 
 
With the win, Frostburg moves to 2-1 on the season, while Lock Haven also goes to 2-1.  The Bobcats remain home as they welcome in Seton Hill (Pa.) on Saturday, November 16 at 1 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.