FROSTBURG, Md. - The West Liberty University women's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss, 99-94, in overtime Wednesday night at Frostburg State.
Leading by as many as 10 with three minutes to play, West Liberty (15-10, 13-6) could not close it out. Frostburg State (8-17, 6-13) threw in a half court heave at the buzzer to force overtime and rode the momentum to a victory on its home court.
Karly McCutcheon finished with a career-high 33 points and drained six three pointers leading the Hilltoppers. Corinne Thomas scored 23 points with four threes and eight rebounds. Arriana Manzay posted her 13th double-double of the season with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Sonia Sarda rounded out four double-digit scorers for the Black and Gold with 12 points and dished out a game-high seven assists.
McCutcheon hit four of her six threes in the first quarter and had an early 15 points, as WLU jumped ahead 21-9. The Bobcats finished the opening 10 minutes on a 14-4 run to get back within a score, as the Hilltoppers owned a 25-23 advantage at the end of one.
West Liberty built its lead back up to eight points with 2:45 to play in the first half, but another late spurt by Frostburg State sent the game to the break with WLU ahead by three (41-38).
It was more of the same in the second half, the Hilltoppers tried to surge ahead but the Bobcats were right there to stick around. After West Liberty took a seven-point lead at the end of the third quarter, Frostburg State began the final 10 minutes scoring seven of the first 10 points to get back within one possession.
Thomas scored five straight points for the Hilltoppers to answer the mini Bobcat run to open the fourth quarter. Another Thomas three put the Black and Gold up double digits with 3:57 to play. The team's traded points and the Hilltoppers stayed up 10 with under three minutes remaining.
Down the stretch, West Liberty went 3-for-6 at the free throw line and Frostburg State took advantage, chipping away. The Hilltoppers went to the line with two seconds left ahead by two, Thomas split her visit making the second one. The Bobcats launched the ensuing inbound pass to half court where Emilee Weakley caught, turned, and threw up a desperation attempt rattling home to send the game to overtime.
In overtime the Hilltoppers went 2-for-9 from the field and Frostburg State went just 1-for-16 but 12 free throws was enough for the Bobcats to pull out the upset win. Weakley, a freshman, scored 47 points for Frostburg State.
WLU assisted on 20 of its 33 made baskets and owned a 13-8 edge in three point makes. However, a 57.7% free throw shooting performance came back to bite the Hilltoppers, as Frostburg State scored 23 points at the line shooting 67.6%. FSU also outscored the Black and Gold 46-40 in the paint.
Faulk, McCutcheon, and Sarda all fouled out of the game. Faulk was disqualified at the end of the fourth quarter, while McCutcheon and Sarda committed their fifth fouls in overtime.
West Liberty will be back home on Saturday for a matchup against Fairmont State at 2 pm inside the ASRC.