Three Reach Double Figures as Women's Basketball Comes up just Short in Regular Season Finale

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team dropped their regular season finale on the road to Fairmont State on Saturday afternoon by a score of 85-81, putting them at #3 in the conference entering the Mountain East Conference Tournament.  

Frostburg was called for two early fouls before either team saw a score. Traded layups by freshman Alanna Tate and Fairmont put both teams on the board. The Falcons went on a seven-point run before freshman Grace Middleton put one in the net to bring the game to 9-4. A missed Falcon jumper turned into an offensive board and put back for freshman Jenna Muha down on the other end to make the score 9-6. On the Fairmont inbound, Frostburg was called for a foul, resulting in two for Fairmont to push the Falcons to 11-6. Another seven-point run for the Falcons advanced their lead to 18-6. The initial layup by Muha fell short of the rim but fell in the hands of sophomore Emiliee Weakley for a put back and 18-8 score. Frostburg forcing Fairmont into a missed long three, resulted with a made three by graduate Maggie Sharp. With under three minutes left in the first, graduate Ciara Thomas, Muha, and Weakley combined for 4-for-6 from the free throw line to bring the Bobcats within three, 18-15. A knocked down three and a two-for-two trip from the line put the Falcons up 23-15. With 30 seconds left in the first, Sharp traded threes with Fairmont, while also putting in a free throw, as the score read 26-19 in favor of the Falcons after one. 

A steal and a bucket for Fairmont kicked things off in the second for a 28-19 score. Thomas responded with a solo layup, scoring the first points of the second for the Bobcats. A Fairmont turnover developed into a layup for junior Jasmine Johnson to bring Frostburg within five, 28-23. Fairmont's jumper bounced off the rim, which resulted in an offensive rebound for the Falcons and a 30-23 game. On the next play, freshman Mandy Roman put Frostburg within five once more with 30-25 score.  Coming out of a timeout, Tate saw an opening to bring the game to 31-27. Thomas, with a defensive board, pushed the ball to Weakley, who made a move for the layup and a two-point game. Four made free throws and a jumper put Fairmont up 37-29 with under two minutes to play in the half. Weakley to Sharp for three cut the deficit to five once again, 37-32. The Falcons hit the final jumper of the half to enter the locker room up 39-32.

Middleton and Tate traded jumpers with Fairmont to start the third off with a 44-38 score. Weakley with a defensive rebound, knocked down a shot for three on the other end to make the score 44-40. The next jumper missed by the Falcons found the hands of Muha, who fed Sharp for a bucket to bring the Bobcats within two, 44-42. To tie the game at 44 apiece, Sharp assisted Weakley for an easy two. Muha created the first lead for Frostburg, after a smooth layup, as the score read 46-44.  Fairmont responded with a shot from deep to jump in front 47-46. Tate responded right away, putting the Bobcats back on top 48-47. Traded layups by the Falcons and Middleton kept Frostburg leading 50-49. Farimont was able to knock down two free throws to push in front 51-50.  A floating jumper from Middleton put Frostburg back in on top 52-51, but the Falcons responded with a six-point run to jump ahead 57-52.  Another three from Weakley ended the third quarter with the Falcons on top 57-55.

With another seven point-run, Fairmont took at 64-55 lead with seven minutes left in the game. Thomas was first on the board in the fourth for the Bobcats, with a wrap around two for a 64-57 score. Down the stretch, Johnson was fouled, putting up a free throw to make the game 64-58. In response, Fairmont hit another three to go up 69-58. Weakley, with a solo three, cut Fairmont's advantage to nine, 69-60. Roman with an offensive board and a scoop pass to Thomas resulted in a three-point play and a 69-63 game. Five points for the Falcons put them up double digits again, 74-63. Thomas with a floater, Sharp with a three, and Weakley with two made free throws, brought the game to 74-70.  On defense, Thomas got her hand in the passing lane to get the steal and a bucket to bring Frostburg within two, 74-72. Weakley going coast-to-coast tied the game 74-74 with under two minutes to play. To stop the clock, Frostburg had to foul, which put Fairmont up two 76-74. A missed three by the Bobcats found the Falcons with a made three and a 79-74 score. With 30 seconds left, Muha put up a strong two to cut the Bobcat deficit to three, 79-76. In trying to win the ball back, Frostburg was forced to foul, as Fairmont went two-for-two from the line to go up 81-76.  Frostburg proceeded to call a timeout, as Weakley was fed the ball for an easy two to bring the game to 81-78.  With the Bobcats forced to foul again, Fairmont secured the trip to the free throw line for a 83-78 game. The Bobcats weren't done yet, as Weakley ran the ball down the court to bring Frostburg within three, but time was not in the Bobcats favor, as Fairmont knocking down their free throws resulted in the Falcons coming out on top 85-81. 

Three Bobcats finished in double digits with Weakley (24), Sharp (15) and Thomas (12), as Weakley and Muha earned six rebounds apiece, and Middleton led the team with five assists.

With the conclusion of this game, Frostburg finishes the regular season with an overall record of 18-10 and a conference record of 14-6, as Fairmont finishes with an overall record of 23-5 and a conference record of 16-4.  Frostburg finishes with the program's most wins and most conference wins since the 2009-2010 season, as well as their highest-ever finish in the MEC.  The Bobcats will serve as the three-seed in the MEC Tournament, as they will face sixth-seed Concord at 2:30 PM on Thursday, March 7 in WesBanco Area located in Wheeling, WV for the Quarterfinals.  For more information, visit frostburgsports.com.