Women's Basketball Uses Fourth Quarter to Seal Road Victory Over Bulldogs

BOWIE, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Basketball team took their first road contest of the season with a 69-58 victory over Bowie State on Tuesday evening. 
 
Both teams missed their first few shots to get started, before senior Taylor Smith fed freshman Julie Spinelli for a trey from deep for the first points of the game almost two minutes in.  Almost a minute later, Bowie laid in a bucket for their first score, before another bucket in the paint put the Bulldogs on top 4-3.  On the other end, sophomore Alanna Tate dished to senior Emilee Weakley outside the arch for a three and a 6-4 Bobcat lead.  Weakly went on a 9-0 run herself, connecting on two more threes to push FSU's advantage to 12-6.  After a slow few minutes, Weakley added to her run with a jumper, before graduate Sarah Shamdeen knocked down a triple to end the quarter with Frostburg on top 17-6. 
 
BSU started the second quarter with a layup, as FSU struggled to get their rhythm to open the quarter.  The Bulldogs put in another score, before Smith drove to the basket around the 7:18 mark for a 19-10 game.  Weakley then found sophomore Jenna Muha inside, as another triple from Spinelli saw the score at 24-10.  Spinelli stayed hot from outside the arch, advancing FSU's lead to 27-11, as back-to-back layups from Weakley kept the Bobcats in command.  Bowie rallied for three straight scores to end the half, putting the score at 33-21 in favor of the Bobcats at the break. 
 
Weakley sunk two free throws to begin the second half, as Bowie responded at the other end with a pullup jumper.  Another layup down low put the Bulldogs within 10, before two free throws from their own charity stripe brought them within just eight.  Frostburg struggled to set up their offense, as BSU was able to rack up steals.  Weakley was able to put in one free throw to end the Bobcat's drought, but a three from Bowie brought the game to 36-31.  Again, FSU struggled to put the ball in the basket and keep possession on offense, as two free throws put Bowie within three with 4:11 left in the third.  BSU laid in another bucket to get within one, as Weakley drove right down the court for a layup of her own to put Frostburg ahead by three.  Both teams traded turnovers, before Shamdeen connected again from deep to sit the score at 41-35.  Spinelli then knocked down yet another triple to put FSU back on top 44-35.  BSU fought to get back within five, but a layup from Smith at the end of the quarter sat FSU up with a 46-39 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter. 
 
Bowie put in the first two buckets of the fourth to make it a one score game.  A floating jump shot from Bulldogs tied the game at 46, before Tate was fouled and sent to the line for two.  Tate connected on her two free throws to put Frostburg ahead, as a layup from Weakley laid in another score to put the Bobcats in front 50-46.  FSU kept their run going, increasing their lead to 10 for a 56-46 game.  Another layup from Weakley built Frostburg's advantage to 12, before Bowie finally got one to go, bringing their deficit to 10.  Both teams traded free throws with under three minutes to go, before a layup, followed by a three, brought the Bulldogs within six.  Weakley quickly put an end to BSU's run with a three of her own, as Weakley then passed to Muha under the basket for an easy two and a 65-54 game.  With a minute to go, Bowie saw another layup, but a big steal from Shamdeen and a huge defensive rebound from Spinelli was able to seal the deal, leaving the Bulldogs to foul to somehow get the ball back.  Shamdeen sunk her two free throws, followed by Weakley sinking two more to end the game with Frostburg on top 69-58. 
 
Weakley led all scorers with 32 points, picking up eight rebounds and three assists as well.  Spinelli was next with 12 points, shooting 4-for-5 from three while grabbing five rebounds.  Smith added nine points, while Shamdeen saw eight, as Muha pulled down seven rebounds, and Tate saw six rebounds and five assists. 
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 3-2 on the season, while Bowie falls to 1-3.  The Bobcats return home for their next contest, kicking off MEC play with Davis & Elkins on Saturday, November 23 at 2 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.