WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. - The West Liberty University women's basketball team scored 17 of the final 18 points in the game to turn a three point lead with five minutes remaining into a 19-point (80-61) victory over conference foe Frostburg State Wednesday evening inside the ASRC.
Arriana Manzay scored a game-high 23 points with 14 coming in the second half. The senior forward shot 8-for-10 from the floor and went 7-for-8 from the free throw line. Karly McCutcheon filled the stat sheet with 18 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Grace Faulk drained three of her five three pointers in the final three minutes and finished with 15.
Frostburg State (4-11, 2-7) took a three-point edge (40-37) into the locker room after a back-and-forth first half. The Bobcats extended the lead to five points just over two minutes into the third quarter, but West Liberty (8-6, 6-3) answered with a 15-4 run to close out the quarter and take a 54-48 lead into the final 10 minutes. The Hilltoppers held Frostburg State to just three field goals and eight points in the third quarter. Sonia Sarda scored nine of her 14 points in the frame to lead the Black and Gold's run.
The Bobcats grabbed the lead back scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter, but then West Liberty went right back in front with a 9-2 spurt. The game seemed destined to come down to the wire, as WLU led by three at the under five media timeout in the fourth quarter. However, the Hilltoppers stepped on the gas and finished on a 17-1 run to win it convincingly. The Black and Gold shot 60% in the fourth quarter and made four three pointers.
West Liberty did not allow a three pointer after the first quarter, holding Frostburg State to 1-of-10 shooting beyond the arc. Meanwhile, WLU drained nine three's on the offensive end.
The Hilltoppers travel to Fairmont State on Saturday for a 2 pm matchup.