FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team began their season with a gutsy 75-71 victory over Pitt-Johnstown at home on Friday evening.
 
Competing in the second game of the Jim Crawley Conference Challenge, both teams struggled from the field early on, as the first point didn't come until over two minutes in when sophomore Mandy Roman went one-for-two at the line. She then turned provider to junior Jenna Muha for a layup in the paint, while UPJ got on the board after three minutes with a triple that tied things up.
 
FSU's defense began to clamp down, holding the Mountain Cats without a field goal for over two and a half minutes, while sophomore Julie Spinelli and Muha went for back-to-back lay-ins, followed by redshirt freshman Sophie Nichols making a pair of free throws and sophomore Laekyn Flinn nailing a three to lead 12-3. Pitt-Johnstown finally broke their scoreless streak with a basket from close range, but Flinn found Nichols from deep to keep the offense churning. The sides then traded scores, with Nichols hitting a layup off a great Flinn pass, then Muah got a putback to go to lead 19-9. UPJ was able to capitalize on a Bobcat turnover, scoring either side of redshirt sophomore Riley Nelson's free throw to pull within 20-13 at the end of the first.
 
The Mountain Cats came out with renewed energy to start the second frame, holding Frostburg to just one basket over the first four and a half minutes, going on a 14-2 run to take full momentum at 27-22. Spinelli halted momentum with a driving layup, while Roman nailed a trey to pull within two, though Pitt-Johnstown responded in turn with six in a row to lead 35-27. Looking to cut into the lead headed to the half, Roman found Spinelli for three, while Flinn split a trip at the line and made a late bucket thanks in part to freshman Raegan Ogle's steal, bringing the score to 37-33 at the break.
 
Coming out of the halftime talk, FSU started the quicker of the two teams, as Spinelli and Roman went for back-to-back buckets to tie things at 37 all. The Mountain Cats then put in the next seven, though Nichols was able to respond from deep off a Roman assist, who also then fed Muha inside to get back within two. Each team went back and forth, neither able to get the defensive stops needed to make a run, with a layup putting UPJ ahead 51-46 with four minutes left in the quarter.
 
After turnovers from both sides, Roman continued to be the Bobcats' provider, dishing to Spinelli before Muha got a tip-in to go, bringing the score to 51-50. Flinn then took over the final 90 seconds, getting to the line and making both freebies, then answering a Mountain Cat three with a turnaround jumper from Nelson's assist, with things standing even at 54-54 heading to the fourth.
 
Pitt-Johnstown struck first blood in the final period, netting seven of the first nine points to take a 61-56 lead inside the first minute and a half. FSU got momentum back on their side with Spinelli driving the lane for a basket, then Muha ripped the ball away from a UPJ player at the other end, leading to Roman finding Spinelli for three before making a layup herself, regaining the lead 63-61. Pitt-Johnstown evened things up on a mid-range jumper, as both defenses stepped up, as three minutes went by before another Mountain Cat layup put them up 65-63 with three and a half to go.
 
Back-to-back UPJ fouls gave Frostburg possession back, the first an offensive charge and the second putting Muha at the line, where she hit both. Pitt-Johnstown came right back with a layup, as Roman and Muha then combined to go three of four as the fouls piled up, narrowly pulling the Bobcats ahead 68-67. Both sides had trouble keeping possession of the ball, combining for three turnovers that took the game into the final minute.
 
Spinelli drew a foul to convert one of two at the line, as the Mountain Cats failed to get their putback attempt to fall, as Muha grabbed the board and was able to get to the line again to lead 71-67 with 30 seconds on the clock. UPJ gave themselves a chance with a backdoor cut pulling them within two, as Spinelli and Roman then were able to play 15 seconds of keep-away before the latter got fouled, steadying herself to make both from the charity stripe. Pitt-Johnstown was able to get a late bucket to fall, but their hopes came down to Spinelli at the line with two seconds to go, as she put the game out of reach at 75-71 with her final two free throws.
 
Five different Bobcats reached double figures, led by Spinelli's 21 and followed by Muha (16), Flinn (14), Roman (13), and Nichols (10). Muha came two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight on the day, as Roman flirted with a triple-double on eight assists and six boards.
 
With the win, Frostburg begins the year 1-0 while Pitt-Johnstown drops to 0-1. FSU will close out the Jim Crawley Conference Challenge tomorrow, November 15 at 3 p.m. against Bloomsburg. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.